THE Wangaratta Turf Club’s Into Our Hands Community race day saw three locally trained horses claim victories.
Andrew Dale cashed in with More Importance ($7.90) taking out race seven’s Garry Nash & Co Community Fund Handicap (1100m) by half a length.
That wasn’t it for Dale as he also trained a rare trifecta in race nine with Turnaquid ($25.50) saluting by half a length, followed by stablemates Copperfield and Deploy and Destroy in second and third.
Dale said it was a special day.
“It was tremendous to get the double for the day and a trifecta in the second last race of the day,” Dale said.
“We were probably a little unlucky with Miss Beautiful too (finished second) so it could’ve been an even bigger day.
“It was just a great day and a great week for us.”
More Importance has come from the clouds since returning from a spell last week.
The four-year-old gelding broke an 18-month winning drought when he won at Corowa first-up at a whopping $101 before saluting at Wangaratta on Saturday.
“More Importance had a great, long break and then a great build up to the races,” Dale said.
“Because I’m the only owner in him I wasn’t in a rush to get him to the races so he probably had a good 12 weeks in work.
“And then getting him on to those TAB tracks has probably been good for him too.”
Next came the stable trifecta which paid a whopping $2202.80.
“In the trifecta all horses from our perspective had been going okay,” Dale said.
“Turnaquid has been going quite well bar her last run at Wodonga but the track at Wodonga was difficult so we thought we’d put a line through the runs of the horses that ran there last week.
“Prior to Wodonga she’d been going okay and I think getting her back on top of the ground on her home track with a good ride from Cory Parish was the key.
“It was Copperfield’s first run for the stable and he ran well and then Deploy and Destroy actually ran well at that Wodonga meeting – it was probably the eye catching run of the meeting for us and he once again put in another solid performance at Wangaratta.”
The day was made all the more special for the stable as they captured 50 winners for the 2023/24 season in what is the first time Andrew Dale Racing has reached that milestone.
“The 50 winner mark is something we set ourselves to do this season so to get there is really special,” Dale said.
“I’m not sure if we’ll do it again because of all the travel, resources and hard work from everyone at the stable it took to achieve it but it’s nice to do it.
“To be the first trainer at Wangaratta to get to 50 this year is great but the likes of Ben Brisbourne and Craig Weeding are going really well and aren’t far behind in the 40s.
“It’s good to look back at the year and all of the hard work the staff and people involved put in, I really appreciate everyone’s hard work and support.”
Weeding also had a winner at Wangaratta with Arachidi claiming race five’s 0-58 handicap (1590m) by a convincing two lengths.
