Modernism to lead Cairns trainer Mark Dale's charge

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Mark Dale will have a strong hand on his home track at Cannon Park in Cairns on Sunday and has given punters a key pointer by declaring Modernism as his best hope.

Modernism – a Jason Taylor mount – lines up in the Class 6 Handicap over 1500 metres, while Dale also saddles up four other starters.

Dale rates handy sprinter Ali’s Jab as his next best hope in the Class 3 Plate over 1250 metres while Elite Standard tackles the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 950 metres.

Dale, who has seven horses in work, also is looking for a strong showing from debutant Wong Way, who clashes with stable mate Ballroom Boss, in the Maiden Handicap over 950 metres.

Modernism has been great for Dale, who paid only $1200 for the daughter of Master Of Design.

“She’s been a very handy mare for us but she never gets the best of luck with her racing pattern of getting back,” Dale said.

“I only paid $1200 for her and she’s won nearly $100,000 in prize money from only 20 starts.

"She had a bad year last year when she got crook but we did a few tests on her and eventually got her right again.

“She found her best form three starts back winning a $50,000 race.”

Modernism has won six times and has placed on another five occasions during her career and is coming off a last start fourth to the Steve Massingham-trained Silent Explorer over 1250 metres at Cairns on October 30.

Dale also is hopeful Ali’s Jab can bounce back to form while Elite Standard is closing in on her best form.

Elite Standard was resuming when she tailed off to last in a field of nine behind the Hong Kong-bound Bank Bank Bank in an 875 metre Benchmark race on a soft track at Cannon Park on October 30.

“Ali’s Jab got to the front way too soon last start and he should run a lot better this time,” he said.

“Elite Standard got flattened and was put out of the race at the 500 metre mark in her last run.

“It knocked the wind out of her and put her right out of the race.

“She’s a little bit out of her grade in a Benchmark 70 and she might need another run.”

Dale moved to Cairns five years ago after a successful stint in Mackay but originally hails from Deagon, on Brisbane’s north side.

He started his career training for Peter Tighe of Winx fame and gave the fruiterer his first winner as an owner.

“I trained a horse called Franciscan Magic, which was Peter’s first winner as an owner, when he won at Eagle Farm in 1996,” he said.