Teh Back Aboard Roweiner for Cluden Return

Wulguru trainer Bill Kenning has returned to a proven winning formula for the return of record breaker Roweiner’s Dance at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Kenning has booked Townville’s leading apprentice Isabella Teh to reunite with the Sidestep three-year-old in the Ladbrokes Mounting Yard Report 3YO Hcp (1000m) on the back of a three from four winning strike rate.

The last time diminutive Teh rode the gelding the duo bolted to a 7.8 length track record run over the 1000m at Cluden on May 5.

In his two starts since, Roweiner’s Dance was placed as favourite with senior riders aboard in the Townsville 2YO Classic and Classic Prelude over 1200m leaving a distance question mark over the youngster.

But Kenning thinks Teh’s return and her 2kg claim will be ideal, and says the best is yet to come for the gelding as he learns to settle in his races.

“I thought he’d get more weight than that to be honest (61kg) so naturally you put a claimer on and he’ll now come in very well in the weights,” Kenning said.

“He’s not wound up but he’s changed this time in. He’s grown more and got a bit more dour.

“He’s had the blinkers on but after this run I’ll take them off and start him over a trip – 1200, 1400m. But by that time he’ll probably have to go down below (Brisbane).

“He’s forward enough to beat them and I wouldn’t be worried about the alley (9) because he ran a track record from an outside barrier.”

Roweiner’s Dance and his stablemate Beau Rain were the standout two-year-olds in Townsville last season, between them winning 10 races.

While Kenning will spell Beau Rain through the heat of the summer, he’s already looking at sending Roweiner’s Dance south for a crack at a metro race once he has a couple of runs under his belt.

Shamedy’s success in Brisbane after beating Roweiner’s Dance home narrowly for second in the Classic in June has given Kenning encouragement for a southern tilt.

“With the way he’s bred to get over ground and the way he’s all arms and legs I don’t know how he sprints like he does,” Kenning said.

“I jumped him out the other day and Jeffrey Felix rode him and without the blinkers he settled beautifully. He got back second last and got to the line real good. Just a different horse.

“As soon you take the blinkers off him he’ll settle all day.

“I think it’ll be interesting when we go to the next stage and step him over more ground. I’m sure that’s his forte really, and I think he’s untapped.”

Roweiner’s Dance’s return as a red hot favourite will be a highlight on tomorrow’s eight-event card which is Townsville’s first race meeting since the course proper was closed for renovation after Cup Day on August 12.

Top Atherton galloper Yes Dream heads the weights in the feature event, the Lawrence and Hanson Open Hcp (1300m) and will be out to return to form after disappointing runs at the Townsville and Cairns carnivals.

Pictured: Top apprentice Isabella Teh cruises home to a record breaking win on Roweiner's Dance at Cluden in May. The pair will be reunited at Cluden tomorrow.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.