Dale has a chance at another Highway Hcp
Circle Game will be out to add to trainer Matthew Dale’s success in Sydney’s Highway Handicaps when the races restricted to country NSW and ACT-trained horses return at Randwick.
Lightly raced filly Circle Game, who Dale describes as a work in progress, is equal $5 favourite in Saturday’s 1200m event and could become the trainer’s fifth winner of a Highway Handicap since they were introduced in October.
The most recent was run in late February before the races took a back seat during the bulk of the autumn carnival.
“They are back on every Saturday pretty much now which is good,” Canberra-based Dale said.
“It’s a good initiative.”
Circle Game raced three times in her first campaign for a Moruya placing, a Canberra maiden win and a midfield finish in a three-year-old fillies’ race at Caulfield won by Alaskan Rose.
“She’s still a work in progress and is quite a raw filly,” Dale said.
He said the daughter of Snitzel had done the work for her first-up assignment having had two unofficial jump-outs on her home track.
“Having only had the three starts I think whatever she does tomorrow she’ll improve on, not in fitness but in experience,” he said.
“She’s got a bit of quality about her but she is still learning her race craft.”