Roweiner's Dance to step out over more distance

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Bill Kenning has always believed star North Queensland sprinter Roweiner’s Dance is not just a short course specialist and hopes time will prove him to be correct.

Roweiner’s Dance took his record to an impressive 11 wins and four placings from 20 starts when the gelding resumed with a brilliant win in a Benchmark race at Townsville on February 27.

The four-year-old led most of the way despite the burden of carrying 60.5kgs with apprentice Gabrielle Semmens in the saddle.

Kenning used blinkers on Roweiner’s Dance first-up and was always hopeful of a strong showing.

“It was his first start for a while but I always thought his class would prevail,” Kenning said.

“He wasn’t a laydown misère to win so I put blinkers on him to sharpen him up but they’ll come off for this race. 

“His last run was just a stepping stone for him and so is this race as I want to step him up in distance eventually.

“If he shows me he can run a trip he might be a carnival horse up here in the winter.”

Roweiner’s Dance will take his next step along the path to the winter in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres at Townsville’s Cluden Park on Saturday.

A son of Sidestep, Roweiner’s Dance has won up to 1300 metres but has not won in four starts over 1200 metres with two placings his best efforts.

Roweiner’s Dance’s mother Roweiner was trained by Kenning and proved herself over a middle distance.

“His mother won six races for me from 1300 to 2200 metres, that’s why I’m surprised what this bloke has done over short distances,” Kenning said.

“I’ve got a lot of time between now and the winter races to see if he can run a trip and if he doesn’t show he can I’ll revert back to sprints.

“This is a lot stronger field than he met in the Benchmark race last time and I’m hoping he’ll be hard to beat again over 1200 metres.”

Roweiner’s Dance has earnt more than $244,000 in prizemoney.

“I had him up for sale as a three-year-old after he broke the course record in Townsville,” Kenning said.

“I had an offer from Hong Kong for $250,000 but there was too much mucking around as they wanted him sent down to Brisbane for x-rays, so I decided to keep him.”