Matthew Dale will saddle up two chances at this Saturday's Hawkesbury stand alone meeting, just days after Signoret claimed a very good win at Canterbury.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Shoot Thru Blu will kick off the day for the Canberra based trainer in the Tab Number 1 Club NMW Handicap (1200) which appears on paper to be a very competitive affair.
The three-year-old gelding has won five of his eights starts and has been working through the grades well, finishing fourth at Canterbury last start in his first metropolitan race.
“We thought he would be a midweek horse but he has continued to progress and run very well,” said Dale
“It looks a good race for him tomorrow, he has drawn favourably and I am sure he will be competitive.”
“We are just taking it one step at a time with him and he has to build up an imposing record, he was good out of a wide gate last start when he was caught wide.”
Peter Robl will maintain the ride and Dale said Shoot Thru Blu is likely to settle just behind the pace with plenty of these to go forward.
Fox, who finished second in the Gosford Guineas last start currently holds favouritism at $3.50 with Shoot Thru Blu well in the market at $5.50.
Dale will have to wait until the last race on the program for his other chance Happy Finish who will line up in the Group GSA Benchmark 85 Handicap (1200m).
The eight-year-old gelding resumed his ninth campaign when running second in the Queanbeyan thunderbolt with a big weight last start, and will look to improve on his very good second up record.
“It was a good honest run first up I thought as he was caught wide,” said Dale.
“We were planning on taking him to the Wagga Town Plate but he drew wide so we opted for Hawkesbury where he has drawn well.
“His best form is at the 1200m and he should really appreciate the tight turning shorter track tomorrow.
Happy Finish will be ridden by apprentice Andrew Stead who has a good record with the stable having ridden two winners and six placegetters form nine starts, and will also claim a much needed 3kg.
“Andrew is riding well at the moment and the claim really brings him into it so it is all systems go.”
The Peter Snowden-trained Mental looks the clear top pick in the race at $2.50 currently on Tab Fixed odds with Happy Finish currently at $21.
Dale has already trained 28 winners this season at a strike rate of almost 24% and looks set to continue his good form with the likes of Signoret, who will head back to town for her next start.
