Notation to mark up against the males
The Matt Dale-trained Notation will try for back-to-back 1400m-wins at Randwick.
A burgeoning relationship with bloodstock specialist and syndicator James Harron has been the impetus behind Matthew Dale’s acquisition of Notation and so far the partnership is proving a resounding success.
Dale trains a couple of fillies for Harron’s syndication business and when Harron bought Notation on behalf of owners Donna and Rob Love at the recent broodmare sale at the Gold Coast, Dale was anointed her new trainer.
Before her sale, the filly had won first-up at Canterbury for the Hayes and Dabernig training partnership and she has continued to thrive since switching to Dale’s yard.
“It’s unusual circumstances, after the Canterbury win she went to the Magic Millions sale and was sold to one of the original owners, the Love family, they bought her back through James Harron,” Dale said.
“This is my first horse for them so it’s a good way to kick off that relationship.”
Notation has won both her starts for Dale, making her stable debut with a narrow but fighting victory before running away from her rivals over the course and distance of Saturday’s PFD Food Services Handicap (1400m).
Her vein of form prompted connections to consider a start in the Listed Winter Challenge on Saturday week but they decided the filly would not be favourably handicapped and instead opted to tackle another Benchmark race this weekend.
Dale is confident it’s the right move.
While Notation will have to take on the males on Saturday, including last-start winners Smartedge and Ljungberg, the dominance of her most recent win has the Canberra trainer believing she will handle the test.
“It was probably the most impressive win of her career to see her stroll away like that last start,” Dale said.
“Obviously, you’ve got to go up in grade and generally weight as you keep winning but going against the boys, she’s able to drop back down in weight.
“I think she’s well placed at this time of year with the sting out of the track.”
In an open race, Notation is on the second line of betting at $3.70 behind the Ron Quinton-trained $2.70 favourite Ljungberg.
Her performance at Randwick will go a long way to determining where Dale heads with the well-bred daughter of Fastnet Rock, with a shot at a stakes race still on the table.
“You’ve got races like the Kosciuszko, you’ve got black-type options and down the track also Magic Millions options so she’s in a good place to target an array of races,” he said.
Her Group One-placed stablemate Fell Swoop is also in the mix for a start in the Kosciuszko with Canberra-trained horses admiited to the race this year.
Fell Swoop is an $8 chance in the Kosciuszko with Notation at $15.