Goulburn hosts a real winter warrior style meeting on Tuesday and the Matthew Dale stable looks to have right horses in the right places in three of the seven races.
Dale is one of the state’s leading country-based trainers and no stranger to winning races, be it Monday maidens or fighting out million-dollar milestones like The Kosciuszko.
Dale has been thereabouts in recent times wherever he’s travelled his charges, another Saturday TAB Highway in the bank recently courtesy of Super Norwest (June 14).
Dale’s Tuesday trio kicks off with Al Flores (Nick Heywood) in Race 1, The GG Engineering Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1200m).
Dale says the recent acquisition has ticked the boxes form wise since coming into his care.
“She’s in good order third up and rock solid fit at the same trip”, Dale offered.
The trainer making a slight tweak to her race day set up in an effort to go one better than her two-recent runner up results.
“We’ve put a nose roll on to help her concentrate a little bit more after hitting the front in both runs and just getting run down late”
“We may ride her quieter but she finds herself in a no excuses style of race!”
Loch Erin is also an early on track arrival on Tuesday, progressing to Benchmark 66 level in Race 2, The Laterals Accounting B66 Hcp over 1200m.
The daughter of Pariah notched career win number two at Wagga first up, her tutor referencing the ‘no shirk’ nature of the result.
“She come through the first up run in good order after a very tough win when sitting wide throughout,” Dale reflected.
“She appears to be a very genuine wet track horse which should help compensate for a wide gate.”
Ash Morgan has been assigned piloting duties on the filly.
Thoughtful rounds out Dale’s home track triumvirate in Race 7, The Doyles Seafood B58 Hcp over 1100m.
The lightly raced gelding kicked off this campaign at Nowra recently after a seven month lay-off, Dale indicating he’s still a horse with as many questions as answers at this early stage.
“His only win to date was on an extremely wet track at this venue. In saying that he’s a bit of an enigma of a horse but he does get conditions to suit by the look of things.”
“We’re looking for him to improve second up with the blinkers on.”
Despite it being mid-winter Dale is already tabling plans for the spring with a race like The Kosciuszko part of the stable mindset.
“We’ll have Front Page again targeting the race. He comes back into work next week and is being set for a Kosciuszko tilt first up”
“He’ll go up a kilo off last year after his strong win in the Group 2 Moreton Cup in Brisbane but will still be very well placed.”
“Boston Rocks is another horse I’ve had set for the race after winning two races impressively in Sydney and Melbourne at the end of last preparation.”
“We’ve set him on a Kosciuszko path and that starts with a trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday: He’ll then build his campaign from there and look to arrive at The Kosciuszko third or fourth up.”
“Other horses also in the Kosciuszko mix include Gravina and Danni’s St Darci.”
Goulburn’s Tuesday card kicks off with the opener set to go at 12.30pm.
Goulburn Soldiers Club & Goulburn Australia are proud supporters of Goulburn & District Racing Club.
PHOTO: Bradley Photos. Loch Erin.
