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Leading Canberra trainer Matt Dale is confident that Happy Finish will make a strong return to racing when he resumes in the Thunderbolt Handicap at Queanbeyan on Sunday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Coincidently, the Black Hawk gelding returns to the track for the first time since winning there on debut - which is also his only other start over the 1000-metre journey.
“His best these days is probably over the 1200-to-1300-metres, and now he's back to the 1000-metres where he's had one start and one win, albeit five-years ago,” Dale said.
“It's always an advantage to have raced around the track at Queanbeyan so hopefully he remembers it.
“He's nice and fresh and hopefully he can sprint well over the 1000-metres.”
Apprentice jockey Amy Van Der Sanden has been engaged to partner Happy Finish and will jump from barrier eight.
Van Der Sanden's 4kg claim is a boost for the veteran gelding who was initially made to carry 58.5kg for Sunday's race.
The locally based apprentice has ridden Happy Finish once before when she fell agonizingly short of victory at Cowra in mid-January.
“There will be a little bit of speed, so we'll let him jump and put him in to gear and let him travel where he wants,” said Dale.
“It's a good race for him to kick off his campaign, and if he gets to the right places at the right times, he can win.
“He's an old stable favourite and I'm looking forward to getting him back and out to the races.”
Despite being an eight-year-old and a veteran of 37 career starts, Dale believes the honest galloper still has plenty to give.
“He's an eight-year-old, and probably beyond his peak days but he's come up alright in his last couple of preparations,” he said.
“It was only last preparation that he got beaten a nose in a Sydney Saturday race, and before that he got beaten 2-½-lengths to My Destiny who went on to win a Listed race in Brisbane.
“He still has a little bit of life in him. These older horses tell you when it's time, with injuries or attitude or results on the track.”
The Queanbeyan track is expected to be at dead or slow which will not trouble the Black Hawk gelding too much despite possessing a far stronger record on firm surfaces.
Dale said he has plans on sending Happy Finish to Wagga following his tilt at the Thunderbolt Handicap.
“If he was to run really well on Sunday I'd look at running him in the Wagga Town Plate next start,” he said.
