DANCINGINTHEWOODS, aka “Woody”, had his first canter this year this morning and looked on really good terms with himself despite the freezing temperatures.
It was bitterly cold at Harper Lodge Farm but that didn’t bother the 4yo son of Garswood, owned by Solario Racing (Ashridge). He has clearly benefitted from a good three month break at Childwickbury Stud. He’s never going to be a big horse but he does seem to have grown and certainly looks longer in the body.
Stable apprentice, Sophie Ralston, was on board for the 80-rated gelding’s first canter back and she had to sit tight a couple of times as he threw in a couple of exuberant but playful bucks. Woody certainly looked pleased to be back in work.
A winner on his two-year-old debut at Newmarket back in May 2019, he had some good form as a juvenile, finishing behind none other than Pinatubo in the Woodcote at Epsom and then coming second to Mark Johnston’s subsequent Dante winner, Thunderous, who is rated 112.
Last year, things didn’t quite pan out for Woody, although he came agonisingly close to winning on Newmarket’s July course when beaten a head by Broughton’s Gold in August. In terms of ratings, he didn’t improve but equally he didn’t deteriorate as he finished the season on the same mark as he started. The feeling is he’s at the right end of the handicap and hopefully, he’ll end up contesting some decent handicaps.
While he’s yet to do any serious work, he doesn’t take a lot of getting ready, so the plan is for him to be out fairly early when the turf season begins and indeed there’s a nice 7f target for him at Doncaster’s opening meeting.
If Dancinginthewoods can regain the winning thread, he could have his owners Dancingonthetables!