As Matthew Dale prepares to welcome his best horse back into work, a long-time flag bearer for the Canberra trainer’s stable will bid to win at Moonee Valley.
Fell Swoop returns to work early next week, while Dale is upbeat about the chances of eight-year-old Unanimously claiming his 10th win and first for 18 months in Saturday’s City Jeep Handicap at Moonee Valley.
“He’s been a grand old horse for the stable and he’s actually racing in really good form this preparation, without winning a race,” Dale said.
“So I’d love to see him win there on Saturday. If he gets the right breaks at the right time I’m sure he can go very close.”
Unanimously was being prepared for a summer campaign a year ago but ongoing feet issues ruled him out.
His four starts this campaign have included a luckless fifth in a Moonee Valley sprint at the Cox Plate meeting on October 24 before he struck unsuitable heavy ground in Listed company at Flemington on November 5.
“He won his first start as a two-year-old in the lead-up to a Black Opal and he’s still going strongly now at eight,” Dale said.
“He’s had a lot of soundness issues in between, mainly just his feet.
“A lot of work has gone into him over the last few preparations, and particularly this preparation more work than ever before has gone into him and he’s racing really well and he’s racing soundly.
“So for him to win on Saturday, it would be a massive thrill.”
Unanimously has attracted support from $12 to $8.50 for the 1000m race with Group Two winner Churchill Dancer into $3.70 from $6.
The gelding has a liking for Moonee Valley with three placings from his four starts at the track including a near-miss.
He was first past the post in the Listed Carlyon Stakes in 2012 but was relegated to third on protest.
“All his runs at Moonee Valley have been right up to his best form,” Dale said.
Dale is also looking forward to the return of four-year-old Fell Swoop, winner of eight of his 10 starts after a successful campaign into early spring that included two Listed wins.
“He’s the best horse that I’ve had and he’s still very raw and still got a lot of upside,” Dale said.
