Trainer Matthew Dale eyes Flemington Group 3 return for Danny's St Darci
Danny's St Darci started her career in Victoria as part of the Archie Alexander stable at Ballarat where she was placed at Listed level before Dale's clients bought her for $70,000 last year.
The rising seven-year-old has returned her buyers more than twice that amount in 12 months, courtesy of a Listed win in Brisbane and a pair of Group 3 placings in Melbourne and Sydney.
Winning Saturday's Group 3 contest at Flemington would boost Danny's St Darci's broodmare value.
Dale said the addition of blinkers and more aggressive race tactics were the key to Danny's St Darci's development.
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'The biggest difference has been the blinkers and putting her into the race a little more than she was in the past,' Dale said.
'We decided to ride her to step her into gear with the blinkers and that really woke her up.'
The Flemington 'Straight Six' course holds no fears for Danny's St Darci after her solid third in a Group 3 race during last year's Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Danny's St Darci is set to tackle the Aurie's Star Handicap second-up after the mare beat one runner home when resuming in the July Sprint at Rosehill on July 19.
Dale said Danny's St Darci was slightly disappointing first-up but noted she had only placed once in seven first-up attempts.
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'Her first-up run was a little bit disappointing on face value but she had a few excuses there and she sort of builds into a preparation,' Dale said.
'Her form profile suggests she gets better as her prep goes on and, being an older mare now, I'd suggest that is more so.
'She's well travelled and well performed.
'We'll have a look at how she gallops on Tuesday and we'll have a look at the field.
'In the last two years, it's been a bit thin as there has only been about seven or eight runners in the race.'
Danny's St Darci is one of 13 entries for the Aurie's Star Handicap with the impressive Grahame Begg-trained mare Splash Back likely to open favourite in 'all-in' markets on the $200,000 feature.
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