Wangaratta trainer Andrew Dale has his sights on reaching 15 to 20 wins before the 2020 season ends.
Dale has enjoyed the switch to Wangaratta after training out of Albury in the early stages of his career.
With restrictions on the number of horses allowed to enter races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dale knows it will be even more challenging to notch wins.
“I think I’ve trained nine or 10 winners this year, so if I can get it up to 15 or 20 in the environment we’re in, I’d be really pleased,” he said.
“That’s the sort of target I’ve set myself because it’s been pretty tough.
“It’s been a starting up phase for me the last nine or 10 months with the new barn (at Wangaratta), new horses and new clients.
“I’ve got five or six two-year-olds at the moment, so there’s not a lot of racing action but hopefully a little bit to look forward to.”
Dale has two runners on his home track on Thursday with Suburbia a chance to make it four wins from its last six starts, while Abyssinia will look to break its maiden in its 13th run.
“Suburbia is in good form. He was a little bit unlucky in his last start at Benalla where he was beaten in a close finish,” he said.
“He’s drawn nicely (barrier three) and he’s had one start at the track for a win.
“She’s (Abyssinia) been a work in progress. She’s had a lot of racing but it’s been trying to teach her her craft.”
“We’ve dropped her back from the 1400m to the 1170m to hopefully get her to relax a bit.”
Dale is among a number of trainers across the region to take on horses from Craig Widdison’s Wodonga stable following his two-year ban from the sport due to an elevated bicarb reading.
Story: The Border Mail
