Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Matthew Dale regards dual Kosciuszko winner Front Page as a “handicap Group 1 horse” and he’s confident the eight-year-old has had the right preparation to break through at the top level at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Matthew Dale (Pic: Grant Guy)

Dale has only had 19 starters at Group 1 level and Front Page’s third in the $1m Kia Ora Galaxy (1100m) a year ago was the Goulburn trainer’s sixth Group 1 placing – the other five with Fell Swoop in 2016-17.

Front Page started $13 when he was narrowly beaten by Zapateo and Sunshine In Paris last year and Dale said if anything he’s had a better build up.

“As they get older you’re mindful and guarded about how good a chance they are but I couldn’t have him in any better order and I think he goes into this as good as he did last year,’’ Dale said.

“A repeat performance from last year has him right in the thick of it.

“He’s a handicap Group 1 horse, that’s his spot, and this time last year he ran out of his skin and was narrowly beaten. To me it profiles very similar.

“You’ve got a couple of hype horses that have to stand up and be counted - Private Harry looks extremely talented, and Briasa the same.

“I’m happy to be in the field and have the horse nice and sound and well.”

The gelding had 52.5kg in 2024 and while he hasn’t won a race in four subsequent starts the fact he jumps to 55kg suggests there’s less depth.

A few weeks after his gallant second to Far Too Easy in the Kosciuszko, Front Page carried 59.5kg and was grabbed in the shadows in a Listed sprint at Flemington.

“He performed really well, he got run over by a handy horse Rey Magnerio with a big weight pull on us,’’ he said.

“Those on speed horses aren’t as favoured going down the straight, you’re more of a sitting duck because you don’t get to use your speed around the bend.”

Front Page, $16 with TAB on Friday, went stride for stride with Overpass in his recent barrier trial at Rosehill, with Tim Clark in the saddle, and Dale said from a more favourable draw than 12 months ago he couldn’t .

“This has been a plan since we turned him out in the spring,’’ Dale said.

“Last year he crossed form the outside gate and was beaten a neck. He has good rolling speed and we won’t be changing anything there, he’ll be rolling along.”

Meanwhile, Dale is prepared give No Drama another chance to win his way into the $1m Evergreen Turf Country Championships Final (1400m) via Sunday’s Southern Wild Card on his home track.

The five-year-old finished sixth in the South East Championships at Nowra on February 23 and Dale said he wasn’t disgraced in being beaten 1.6 lengths under less than ideal circumstances.

“The race itself was a bit of a demolition derby,’’ he said.

Front Page runs second in a Rosehill trial on March 6

“I was scratching my head after the race, I couldn’t work out how it all unfolded. Third-up at the 1400m I think he will be right in the thick of it and I like the month between runs.”’

The winner of the Southern Wild Card takes the last place in the Final to be run at Royal Randwick on April 5.

All the fields, form and replays for Golden Slipper day at Rosehill