ANDREW Dale starred on his home track at the Wangaratta Turf Club’s Members’ Race Day on Saturday.
Incredibly, the Dale stable took out three races in a row with Bellman ($3.30), Copperfield ($2.60) and Brnelyn’s Trooper ($11.40) saluting in races seven, eight and nine.
That wasn’t it for the stable either with Deploy and Destroy winning at Berrigan as well on what was a super Saturday.
Dale said it was a day to remember.
“I trained four (winners) at Corowa one day but that wasn’t on a busy Saturday like the weekend was,” Dale said.
“Greg Brown and the track team at Wangaratta have been doing a fantastic job – I reckon Saturday was the best the track has raced in the five years that I’ve been in Wangaratta.
“It’s great that we’ve carried over the momentum from last season and hopefully it continues.”
Bellman started the day off with jockey Lachie King riding the six-year-old gelding patiently from a wide gate (12).
“Lachie (King) took luck out of the equation with Bellman,” Dale said.
“Bellman’s been knocking on the door and looked really well placed and Lachie was really confident he could get the win on him.”
Copperfield broke through for the third win of his career and first under Dale with King also steering him to victory.
“Similarly to Bellman, Lachie was really confident of Copperfield’s chances and once again rode him really well,” Dale said.
“He jumped well and could’ve pushed forward but took a sit and then found clear air and sprinted late.”
And for Brenlyn’s Trooper, apprentice hoop Brittany Button slotted in behind the leader before running home strong and winning by half a length.
It was the galloper’s first win in 12 months but Dale always felt his gelding had a chance.
“Brenlyn’s Trooper is a stakes placed horse and he was running in a restricted 0-58 race so it wasn’t a surprise that he won,” Dale said.
“His past few runs haven’t been too bad considering they’ve probably been on unsuitable tracks.
“He finished around four-and-a-half lengths away in his last run at Gundagai and a track like that probably doesn’t suit a big horse like him.”
Dale now turns his attention to race days at Benalla on Tuesday, Wagga next Thursday (September 5) and Gundagai Sunday week (September 8).
PHOTO: Copperfield
By: WILLSON MACK (Wangaratta Chronicle)
