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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Matthew Dale would like to leave Rosehill on Saturday content he has Cavalier Charles on target for next month’s $2 million The Kosciuszko.

Matthew Dale (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It wasn’t Plan A for Dale to use the TAB We’re On Handicap (1100m) as the gelding’s major lead up to the Everest Day feature but he said the race appears a lot more favourable than his original first-up target.

A year ago Dale used a 1200m Benchmark race a month out from the Kosciuszko to bring the horse up to fitness, he ran fifth in that first-up run before running into fourth in the big one, so one extra week isn’t a big deal.

The seven-year-old was selected for The Kosciuszko by ticket winner Paul Morris and he’s been kept in the loop, like the owners, with Dale’s plans.

“I was originally going to run him last week but with the sharp hot weather that arrived and the wide gate I decided to wait another week even though he is better at 1200m than 1100m,’’ Dale said.

“I rang the slot holder and explained why we were scratching him and he understood and agreed. I’ll have a chat with Paul and let him know what I think once I assess this race fully.

“It’s the right timing three weeks out, it’s a little bit sharp for him, 1100m on a fast Rosehill, but you get the barrier where you can ride that neutral race.

“He’ll need to be ridden for luck and it sets up nicely for three weeks later.”

Cavalier Charles is a $26 chance in the Kosciuszko with TAB and was $11 on Thursdayfor his Rosehill return.

Dale said the gelding is quite well treated in the race with 60kg, after the claim for Hannah Williams, given he’ll only be conceding 3.5kg to a large majority of the field.

But the fact remains the race is a touch short of the ideal so Dale is realistic when it comes to the outcome, even if he doesn’t storm over the top a flashing light finish would be an ideal springboard into his target.

“He has a big weight, which after the claim is 60kg but it’s quite a compressed scale if we don’t get a lot of scratchings,’’ he said.

“He usually gets back over 1100m, so he’d be mid to rear, and is going to need that little bit of luck from a low draw.

“I’d like to see that good positive intent, closing off through the line and with even luck get into the finish. Then build on that and come on from that up to the 1200m.”

Dale has taken over the training of reigning Kosciuszko champ Front Page and he’s heading toward a 900m barrier trial at Moruya on September 29.

Front Page had a jump out at Goulburn last week and Dale said he couldn’t be happier.

“He’s had a nice balanced prep and everything has gone to plan at this stage,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Molly Nails was scratched from her engagement at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for similar reasons to Cavalier Charles missing last weekend and will race either at Bathurst on Sunday or in town next week.

She’s nominated for The Panorama (1300m) at Bathurst, often a last minute Kosciuszko audition and Dale is expecting her to be competitive wherever she lines up after her second-up run turned into a non-event.

Cavalier Charles runs second in a Warwick Farm trial

“I was concerned about the forecast. You’ve got her going really well, she’s in great order and I didn’t want to risk that,’’ he said.

“Her first-up run was pretty much as good as Garza Blanca on the day then second-up 1100m was too sharp for her and the way the track pattern was that day it was a complete forgive run.”

And, it seems unlikely the unbeaten Mogo Magic will take his place at Rosehill from a wide gate with trainer Scott Collings not keen to overcook the horse before The Kosciuszko.

He said he’ll trial the gelding on October 3 on his home track and tackle the race first-up.

“We didn’t want to give him a gut buster with 60.5kg when we are already into the Kosciuszko so we’re going to take an easier route,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting