John Moloney is usually assured that his reliable sprinter Fine Dane will race consistently each preparation.
Last spring though that didn’t happen and after three runs which he described as disappointing Moloney pulled the plug on the campaign.
On Saturday at Caulfield, Moloney said all the signs with Fine Dane are that he has returned to form and he should go close in the Mia Tiernan Benchmark 84 Handicap over 1100 metres.
Fine Dane resumed from a spell with a first-up third at Flemington over 1000 metres to Sword Of Mercy.
Moloney believes Fine Dane can turn the tables on Sword Of Mercy.
“He races well at Caulfield and although Sword Of Mercy won well at Flemington, this time she’ll have to do a bit of work to get into the race and that could make the difference,” Moloney said.
Moloney believes Fine Dane was below his best last campaign as he said he didn’t winter well.
“He just didn’t come up in the coat and that’s normally a sign that he wasn’t just right. He’s comeback much better,” Moloney said.
Last year Fine Dane ran in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and finished 16th but was beaten only six lengths.
“He knuckled at the start and that was that in a race with so much speed. Whether he would have held on if he had of jumped I’m not sure in a race with so much speed,” he said.
Moloney said if Fine Dane could find his best form he would consider again running in the Oakleigh Plate.
Fine Dane will be ridden by Campbell Rawiller who will claim three kilograms. Fine Dane is a $14 chance with Terbium a $3.20 chance with TAB fixed odds.
