Bigger things ahead for Chance To Dance

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The United States eased from $3.80 to start $5 while Chance To Dance firmed from $21 to start $17 and the pair duelled in the home straight, Chance To Dance refusing to yield on the inside of The United States and score by a short head.

Jockey Craig Williams said he was pleasantly surprised at how strong Chance To Dance was late.

"I was a little bit worried he was going to be vulnerable late because of the pressure up front,” Williams said.

"When The United States had me just after straightening I thought 'at least you've run a good second' but to his credit he just wanted to eat the line and he was tough late.”

A son of Teofilo, Chance To Dance won the Listed Carlingford Stakes (10 fur.) on the synthetic surface at Dundalk at his final start in Ireland last October before his private purchase by Lloyd Williams.

At his only Australian start the Robert Hickmott-trained six-year-old finished fourth over 1400m behind The Bowler at Flemington on Anzac Day.

"It was a great effort for him to win like that,” Williams said.

"Robert (Hickmott) said to ride him positive. They went pretty fast up front,

"For him to perform that well first-up, it's definitely possible that he can measure up to the better races in the spring.”

Abbasso ($9) finished 1 3/4-lengths away third, the winning time 1:36.64.

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