Craig Kerry
Matt Dale has no doubt So You Pence is the best horse in his stable but the Goulburn trainer can’t hide his soft spot for Rose Aye and his delight in also getting that mare into the $2 million Kosciuszko at the 11th hour.
Rose Aye was a replacement on Tuesday for slot-holder Christian Hillier, who lost Liam Ruddy-trained Melody Again to injury on Monday, five days out from the richest race for country-trained horses at Randwick.
The five-year-old was on the Kosciuszko radar in February when she won a class 3 1300m Highway Handicap by a record seven lengths, but she was then 10th in a Country Championship qualifier before having a spell.
Two runs at Randwick in Saturday benchmark grade, a fifth and 10th, were designed to have the five-year-old primed for the Kosciuszko and a call-up which didn’t come.
Rose Aye then came out and put three and a quarter lengths on her opposition, including Kosciuszko runner Graceful Ellen six lengths away, at Canberra over 1200m on September 26 to have her in the frame for the late chance.
Dale has star Victorian jockey Jamie Melham and gate seven for the $21 TAB chance, which has been a bargain buy for the stable.
“She was bought for only $13,000 for family and friends using BOBs bonus tickets we’d won on other horses about four or five years ago,” Dale said.
“We called it Rose Aye after my mate Rodney Thompson’s favourite drink. He’s in the horse and she’s that sort of colour as well, a chestnut.”
Dale said he also discussed Super Norwest as an option with Hillier, but Rose Aye’s form won the spot, and he was confident it would hold up.
“I had always set her towards the Kosciuszko for the prep, and her peak rating last preparation was fourth up, so we had to get a couple of runs under her belt,” he said.
“We put her in some strong Sydney races, then third-up she broke the modern track record at 1200m and was dominant, so she was on the radar and down in the weights.
“Two starts ago, she lost a front shoe on jumping when she stepped awkward, so her effort there, beaten only four behind Decorum and Unleeshing, who have both won again since, is even better than it looks on paper and she takes a couple of runs to really get to peak fitness.
“Then she came out and won in impressively back in grade and ran time, and she’s worked well since.”
A likely wet track on Saturday was also not a worry for Dale.
“She’s won on a soft 7 at Nowra and placed on a heavy at Wagga early in her career, and she ran second to Spicy Lu on a soft 7 at Albury when they beat the rest easily,” he said.
“At the time I thought, how did something beat her? Then Spicy Lu came out and won a group 3, so she’s adept in all conditions.
“I do hold So You Pence a grade above at the races, I feel she’s a black-type mare and she’s proven at this level, but I think Rose Aye well and truly deserves a spot.”
So You Pence, picked up quickly for a Kosciuszko slot, was into a $5 equal favourite despite a draw in gate 13. The seven-year-old mare, with five wins in 10 starts, was fifth in the race last year then dominated the $250,000 Barn Dance before a bleeding attack at a trial in December forced her to the paddock.
She returned with victory in a benchmark 78 handicap at Randwick in July before being prepared for a first-up assault on the Kosciuszko.
“She’s the best horse in my stable,” said Dale, who won the 2023 Kosciuszko with Front Page.
“When she won, we decided we would just focus solely on the Kosciuszko at her next start, then react from there. If she gets through Saturday like I hope, she will likely target mares stakes races after that.
“She was fifth last year and it was a great effort after being caught wide, then she improved off that to be dominant in the Barn Dance, and she’s improved again.”
The Kurrinda Bloodstock mare is lightly raced primarily because of two years off after having career-saving surgery following her maiden win in December 2022.
“Her action actually improved after that,” Dale said.
“She was a bit square-gaited, but after a few issues, she had a screw put in her leg and didn’t race for two years, and she came back a different horse.
“She’s won on a soft 7 at that track, which I always think is important.
“She can sit wherever. She’s won from many positions. She’s got good speed, but she can take a drop as well.
“I’m happy with both mares, they have always been set for the race, so it’s good to have two runners.”
Country Championships and Hawkesbury Crown winner Chidiac and Arrowfield mare Chains Of Love were battling with So You Pence for favouritism.