Having cracked the $1 million prizemoney barrier in a record-breaking season, trainer Andrew Dale is now focused on adding to his list of winners in the final month starting with Wagga on Monday.
The Dale stable has reached 57 winners of which 35 have been in the Southern Districts – one short of his previous best of 36 achieved in the 2022-23 season when he tied for the premiership.
Three Wangaratta trainers – Dale, Ben Brisbourne (68) and Craig Weeding (48) – all sit high up in the national country premiership with a great portion of their winners having been achieved in the region.
"It's been our best season for winners and our focus has been a lot on the SDRA," Dale said.
Dale has some strong prospects at Wagga including Rushford in the Navigate Advisors Benchmark 58 (1400m), Three Musketeers (Thomas Bros Group Benchmark 66, 1200m) and Hells Son (Coorparoo Park CG&E Benchmark 58, 1200m).
The trio are typical of the Dale stable – reliable and fit – with only one finishing position outside of the top four in their past 20 starts between them.
Dale mentions Rushford in glowing terms – a $1000 purchase who has earned $70,000 in about 12 months with the stable.
"He has been one of our best in recent times," he said. "Three Musketeers had no luck last start and comes back from a Benchmark 84 to a Benchmark 66.
"He had plenty left over 1000 metres and the extra 200 metres will suit him plus he has a good alley and is in good form.
"Hells Son has done little wrong of late and I think drawing out a bit wide on the wet track will suit him."
The trainer is looking forward to recent acquisition Quick Spell having his first appearance for the stable in the Riverina Livestock Agents Maiden Plate (1000m).
"He was bought last week for $8000 and we were able to sell shares in him quickly. He is by Per Incanto who is also the sire of Eamonn's Memory and Copperfield who we have had success with," he said.
"Hopefully his provincial form is good enough and he will have the blinkers back on in a suitable first race with us."
Meanwhile, Wagga trainer Darrell Burnet has the ever consistent Miss Fennell right at her top for the Huon Contractors Country Boosted Class 2 (1600m).
It has been a dream run with Miss Fennell to date with six starts producing two wins, three seconds and a third.
"She has been great so far and you could say with a bit of luck some of her placings could also have been wins," he said. "She is a big mare with a big action and needs things to go right."
Miss Fennell has already earned $50,800 well above her $17,000 purchase price.
The trainer accepted with four horses, but is likely to only start Miss Fennell and Graced who he said has a chance after having some excuses of late. Bonnie Murringo and Bomerton will also represent the stable in suitable assignments.
"Bonnie Murringo was second on debut and trialled well. She hasn't been on a wet track, but the indications are she will be right," he suggested.
Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary has two winning hopes in last start winner The Other Straand and Galston Gorge who is first-up from a spell after an impressive trial victory.
Galston Gorge has been consistent in his time with Cleary and the trainer is confident of a forward showing: "My only query is the wet track, but he is ready to start," he said.
"The Other Straand is a well bred filly who was having her first start for me after impressing in trackwork. I changed a few things with her and it worked with an easy maiden win by six lengths."
Like The Other Straand, Galston Gorge was bred by high profile owner Gerry Harvey.
"We have had a lot of success together with over 100 winners. It has been great having these well-bred horses come into the stable and winning with them especially early on," Cleary said.
