Trainer John Mcardle has some thinking to do after Divine Dot registered her maiden city win at Sandown.
A trip north to Queensland or chase another win in town before a freshen up for a Stakes race early in the new season are things McArdle will contemplate after Divine Dot took out the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m) on Saturday.
Under the guidance of Jamie Mott, Divine Dot ($5.50) held off the late finishing burst of Stars Of Dom ($16) to score by a half-neck with the $2.90 favourite Semantics a short-neck away third.
“Her mother got out over a mile and was just beaten in a Stakes race over 1400 metres as a three-year-old,” McArdle said.
“I’ve got in mind that maybe we could produce her as the fit horse early in the spring for a race like the Quezette, or a race of that ilk, or those 1200-metre fillies’ races.
“Maybe she could have another race like this and then we can give her a freshen up and look for something early in the spring.”
Divine Dot had registered two wins, including a win at Warrnambool during the three-day and incurred a weight penalty for Saturday’s outing which concerned McArdle.
“She had to give them the penalty having won two races, so she had a decent weight, and it was a bit of a sticky gate,” McArdle said.
“It probably didn’t turn out exactly how Jamie and I thought, and I thought she was in a little bit of trouble when she straightened up with Semantics back to her inside.
“But one thing is, she is tough and when that horse came at her late, she held it off.”
With two more Sandown runners for the day, McArdle joked his day was done.
Divine Dot is part-owned by his wife Bernadette and said he should be in the ‘good books’ when he gets home.
“At least I won’t have to sleep outside with the dog tonight,” a laughing McArdle said.
