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By Ray Hickson

Meg has been the quiet achiever of the early spring and trainer Matthew Dale is hoping the mare can handle another step up in grade at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Matthew Dale (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The five-year-old has been a long priced winner of both starts this season and despite wins at Randwick first-up and in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong she’ll again be generous odds in the Group 2 $400,000 Racing And Sports Golden Pendant (1400m).

When there was little interest in the mare for The Kosciuszko, which he would still consider if she was to be asked to fill the last slot, Dale said he was more than happy to chase more black type.

“She’s come back really well this preparation and has punched well above her weight both starts now,’’ he said.

“She’s thrown in the deep end again but that’s where she is at now, black type mares grade, but she’s still on the way up and I think she still has improvement to come.

“Only one person called and asked about her and they ended up going with another horse. It shows the unique concept of the Kosciuszko. It totally depends who draws the ticket.

“I’m open to it but once there was no real interest I thought I’d move on and focus on the mares path.”

Dale said he’s happy to wait to see if there’s a scratching or two before confirming a rider as he wasn’t able to secure a senior jockey to ride 54kg at acceptance time.

The prospect of a wet track doesn’t faze him and he’s hoping Meg, $26 with TAB on Wednesday, can have a similar run to her Mona Lisa win at Wyong where she was able to follow eventual third placegetter Larkspur Run into the race before sprinting over the top.

“That’s where she’s at her best, ride her with cover and let her come late,’’ he said.

“We wanted to get cover in the Mona Lisa and she knuckled down and got the job done against a handy bunch of mares.

“When she won first-up they backed off the tempo and she got exposed, and sort of towed her way to the front, and held on and lasted.

“We’re under no illusions that it is a further step up in grade. She’s a pretty adaptable mare and she’s found that next level this preparation.”

Stablemate Five Kingdom begins his road to the $500,000 Little Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 1 when he resumes at Rosehill.

The gelding gained his eligibility for the Big Dance by running second in the Albury Cup back in March and Dale is content with chasing the smaller prize given his likely place in the ballot.

Winners of Big Dance eligible races gain ballot preference over the runners-up before benchmark rating comes into play for the second placed qualifiers.

“The way I see it working out is he will be towards the top of the Little Dance which probably suits,’’ he said.

“In the Big Dance he’s running midfield but in the Little Dance he can compete for the top end of the prizemoney so I hope it all works out that way.”

Meg wins the Mona Lisa at Wyong

Dale plans to give the eight-year-old two lead up runs, starting with the City Tattersalls Group Handicap (1400m), into his target and is saving a key gear change until that day.

Five Kingdom kicked off his last preparation in a 1600m event but showed he is capable of sprinting well fresh when he was a close third at his first start for Dale over the 1400m this time last year.

“We’ve taken the head gear off him and following a similar pattern to last prep with having a run or two then putting the winkers on third-up,’’ he said.

“He’s well and his coat is getting there, he’ll improve off Saturday but I think he will be towards his top into the Little Dance.”

Check out the fields, form and replays for Golden Rose Day at Rosehill Gardens