News

Dale hits the jackpot again in Melbourne

31st Jul 2011

Racenet - Brad Waters - Saturday, 30 July 2011

Melbourne has continued to be a happy hunting ground for the Canberra-based trainer Matthew Dale after his filly Jackpot Queen outlasted her rivals in the Timothy Hunter Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield.

Saturday's $70,000 race was Jackpot Queen's third Melbourne start. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt won at Flemington in May before having no luck when midfield behind Hot Spin at her last run on July 16.

"The other day, nothing went right from the wide gate. She sat four-deep,” Dale said.

"We came here today knowing she would be better off from the experience, it was her first time going around a corner in Melbourne.”

Jackpot Queen showed the benefit of the experience after jockey Daniel Stackhouse positioned the rising three-year-old close to the pace. Jackpot Queen got around the home turn better than she did at her previous start but Dale said the filly still had room for improvement.

Stackhouse got the best out of Jackpot Queen in the straight, getting the better of the leader Exceedingly Regal, before holding off the fast-finishing Forever The Chill.

"We bought her as a two-year-old. She's a little tiny thing, not much to look at, but she is all heart,” Dale said.

"She still wobbled around the corner today, I was a bit worried but she knuckled down and got the job done.

"She has done a great job and you can't win every day. She has done a good job to win what she has.”

Dale said he would "let the dust settle” before deciding the game filly's next assignment.