Propose To Me may be the one
After narrowly missing out on a slot in the $500,000 Country Championships Final, Matthew Dale’s Propose to Me enters tomorrow’s TAB Federal (1400m) as an excellent chance of improving her already impressive record of eight starts for four wins and two minor placings. The four-year-old daughter of Turffontein finished fourth in the Muswellbrook Wild Card Qualifier just 1.4 lengths off the winner and ahead of a number of top country gallopers.
Propose To Me, who has never missed a place on her home turf, won two starts back on TAB Canberra Cup Day in the North Canberra Bears RLFC Handicap, a Benchmark 75 over the mile. A mare with a lot of upside, Trainer Matthew Dale thinks Propose To Me is the one to beat among a quality field in tomorrow’s TAB Federal (1400m).
“I haven’t finalised my speed map yet but I think she’ll get an efficient run” Dale said. “She’s been racing in terrific form this preparation, she has been up for a while but I think she’s a big chance of figuring in the finish.
“She found the 1280m of the Wild Card qualifier a bit short but she ran a terrific race.”
Propose To Me’s rivals on Friday include the Joseph Jones duo Zelago and She’s All In as well as the well-weighted Swagger (NZ) from the Mitch Beer yard. The TAB Federal (1400m) is Race Six on tomorrow’s program and due to jump at 3:25pm.
Later in the day, Ron Weston & John Nisbet’s Our Finvarra will be looking to make it back-to-back victories when he lines up in the EY Handicap (1000m). The seven-year-old took his career earnings past $150,000 a fortnight ago at Thoroughbred Park when producing a superior turn-of-foot to beat home his rivals including the well-fancied Nicci’s Song (SP $1.50).
Tomorrow’s meting will begin with the Ginninderra Cricket Club – Vale Neville Layt Handicap which will feature one of Neville ‘Nifty’ Layt’s final runners, Never Astern. Winner of the 2008 Black Opal Stakes with Sarthemare, Neville Layt passed away earlier this week and will be commemorated at Thoroughbred Park on Friday with a minutes silence before the first race. Jockeys will also wear black arm bands in Race One which is scheduled for 12:25pm.
Photo credit: Bradley Photos