Matt Dale-trained juvenile Single In Paris will make his race debut at Warwick Farm on Saturday in the 2YO Plate (1000m) as he is readied for the $250,000 Inglis Classic later this month.
Dale said that he wants Single In Paris to get a run under his belt before the $250,000 Inglis Classic at Rosehill on January 21.
“We're trying to get him ready for that big race and that will require him having a run before hand,” he said.
“There is a lack of two-year-old races around the district at the moment, but he needs to have a run before we run him in the Inglis Classic.”
Single In Paris is yet another Dale-trained horse by sire Not A Single Doubt.
Other runners trained by Dale by the sire, Jackpot Queen and Unanimously have won numerous times in metropolitan company.
“I've just had a great run of success with them. Pretty much all of them have shown city class ability,” said Dale.
“He was one that I earmarked at the sales last year. I selected him out at the Inglis Classic sales and found a couple of owners to purchase him.
“He looks a good racing type and obviously I've had good success with the breed so he ticked all the boxes for me.
“This is the next one to come along from the stallion and he's a nice horse in the making.”
Despite having plenty of success with Not A Single Doubt progeny, Dale refused to put too much expectation on the two-year-old.
“It's still very early days. There's no point in going out and saying what you think he'll do, or where you think he'll end up,” he said.
“At the moment he is progressing nicely and doing everything we're asking of him. He keeps showing improvement all the time and as long as he keeps doing that he'll do fine.”
Dale said he would like to see the two-year-old contest the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra in March but added that plenty could happen until then.
“We'll assess him after the Inglis Classic and take it from there. Firstly regarding how he goes and then obviously how he comes through it,” Dale said.
“The first goal is to have him ready and competitive for the Inglis Classic.”
The gelding showed plenty of promise in a trial at his home track of Thoroughbred Park leading in to this debut race.
“He will improve on whatever he does at his first start which is why we want to get that first run under his belt,” Dale said.
“He's still learning the ropes. We've only brought him along nice and steadily. He's a nice progressive horse that I think will continue to take that next step.”
Another Dale trained two-year-old the Canberra trainer said to keep an eye out for is Nadeem gelding Vavavic.
“He will have his first start out at Queanbeyan in a two-year-old race Saturday week,” he said.
“He trialled and ran third against the older horses at Queanbeyan on Boxing Day which was just to let him have a look at the Queanbeyan track.
“He's also an Inglis Classic horse, so if he is to perform well at Queanbeyan and pull up well, he may have a look at the Inglis Classic the following week also.
“Once again the Black Opal would be a reassessment from there.”