Trainer Matt Dale has been thrilled with the condition of veteran sprinter Unanimously through recent weeks and is confident Saturday’s City Jeep Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley figures as the ideal race for the eight-year-old.
Craig Williams will take the ride on Unanimously at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell
Unanimously has posted an impressive nine wins and thirteen minors through 40 career starts since first appearing on course competitively for Dale during the 2010 Autumn Carnival.
Clearly needing the run when failing to beat a single runner home in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) first-up on September 5th, Unanimously progressed to seventh in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1100m) and fifth in the Jeep 55 Second Challenge (955m) before again placing seventh on unideal conditions in the Listed Earl Grey Stakes (1000m) last time out on November 5th.
Dale told Racing Ahead the Not A Single Doubt gelding has continued to improve since his most recent effort and should relish the Moonee Valley conditions on Saturday.
“He’s been accepted there with Craig Williams aboard,” Dale said.
“We thought his run two starts back on Cox Plate Day was super there at the Valley – he was unlucky beaten a length.
“Then the rain came on Oaks Day which just totally unsuited, but we decided to accept because he needed the run and we were down there and we rolled the dice and I thought his effort was sound.
“He’s quite well placed on Saturday.
“He’s an old sprinter, we keep him fresh and don’t do too much with him. Most suitable races tend to be in Melbourne.
“He’s sort of a race by race proposition, he races really well at the Valley and this race on Saturday looks a perfect race for him.”
Unanimously was a standout performer for Dale through 2014; returning for second behind multiple Group 1 winner Platelet in the Jeep 55 Second Challenge and second in the Noel Rundle Handicap (1100m) before taking out each of the Wagga Town Plate (1200m) and Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m).
Unlucky to be blocked last when seventh in the Listed June Stakes, Unanimously returned to the paddock for more than a year after running a credible fifth amongst classy company in the Winter Dash (1200m).
Unanimously has been confirmed to line up alongside the likes of Churchill Dancer, Sistine Demon and Straturbo at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
