The prospect of a dry Kembla Grange track provides trainer Matt Dale with some heart of a return to form for Mossman Gorge.
The Warra over 1000m will be Mossman Gorge’s assignment on Saturday, provided there is not too much rain.
The Kembla Grange track was rated a Good 4 on Thursday.
Mossman Gorge has struggled on heavy tracks this campaign, finishing last twice at Moonee Valley with a fourth-place finish at the Gold Coast, also on heavy ground, splitting those two Valley efforts.
“He’s raced on heavy tracks all preparation and he’s a dry track horse, or at least early in that soft range,” Dale said.
“Two starts ago up at the Gold Coast he only got going near the line as his wheels were spinning nearly all the way.
“He’s lost a bit of confidence running on the wet tracks, so if the track’s firm on Saturday, we will run him, but if they get a downpour, or a coastal shower, and it’s back into that high soft range, then I won’t run him.
“He’s in the twilight of his career but he’s still very fit and well, but just looking for a drier track.”
Mossman Gorge ran fifth in The Warra last year, beaten 1-½ lengths behind Eleven Eleven.
Second placed was Malkovich who again lines up on Saturday and will carry topweight of 59kg while Mossman Gorge has 54kg and has the services on Tim Clark.
Following last year’s effort in The Warra, Mossman Gorge headed to Melbourne to finish second in the Listed W J Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in January before a placing at Randwick.
“His form last campaign on better tracks was good, so hopefully he can get back to something like that if the conditions suit on Saturday,” Dale said.
