Reworked La Danseuse Rouge makes return in Aurie’s Star Handicap

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since La Danseuse last stepped out on the racecourse.

That was just over two months ago when the Cliff Brown-trained mare went within 0.01 seconds of breaking the 1100m course record at Caulfield.

In preparation for a Stakes race at Caulfield earlier in July, Brown took La Danseuse Rouge to the jump-outs at Sandown, only for the mare to play up, resulting in a ban until she trialed to the satisfaction of stewards.

Brown chose to send the mare for some remedial work with Julien Welsh, resulting in the mare being passed to race again with a jump-out victory on the synthetic track at Cranbourne on July 22.

La Danseuse Rouge returns to racing at Flemington on Saturday in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) with Carleen Hefel aboard.

Hefel will be the 11th jockey to ride La Danseuse Rogue who will be lining up for her 15th career start on Saturday.

Brown said Welsh and his staff had done a great job with La Danseuse Rogue who will race with just a crossover noseband on Saturday.

La Danseuse Rouge had previously been a barrier blanket horse, had a barrier extension, had a stallion chain used on her along with racing in blinkers.

“Julien said her problems were all noise related, so he said he desensitised her to noise,” Brown said.

“She wore a bit of gear before, but he said ‘don’t bother with it, take it all off’, so we’ll see how she goes.

“She trialled really well. She’s in good shape and Julien and his team did a great job.

Carleen Hefel rode her in the jump-out so we thought we might as well stick with her. She knows what she’s like and all the little things to get her there.

“If she behaves, she’ll be a chance.”

Le Danseuse Rouge is no stranger to racing down the straight Flemington 1200m, running second in the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes during the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“She’s run well down the straight before and rarely does she run badly,” Brown said.

“In time, I think she’ll want 1400 metres to a mile.”