Dale chasing more glory at Cairns Amateurs

By Glenn Davis                                                                                            

Cairns trainer Mark Dale is hoping to grab some more headlines when he saddles Ali’s Jab in the Open Handicap on the first day of the gala Cairns Amateurs on Friday.

Dale originally trained at Deagon on Brisbane’s northside prior to moving to Mackay where he trained successfully for five years before settling in Cairns six years ago.

“I’ve won a couple of Lightning Handicaps at Mackay and just got beaten in a Mackay Newmarket one year,” Dale said.

“I’ve won a Townsville Amateur Sprint and I won this race three years ago with Mega D'oro and I think Ali’s Jab has got a great chance and will be hard to beat.”

Ali’s Jab has been one of Far North Queensland’s most consistent sprinters in recent times, winning two of his three starts this campaign.

However, his only previous Open Company start was in last year’s feature when he compounded after leading to beat one home behind Prime Ruler.

“He’s doing everything right this preparation and he’s been winning carrying big weights,” Dale said.

“But, he’s on the minimum this time and I’ve booked Georgina Cartwright to ride him.”

Caloundra jockey Morgan Butler has a perfect record from two rides on Ali’s Jab.

Butler is suspended, however, paving the way for Cartwright to take over.

“I ride my horses track work and this bloke is one of the fastest horses I’ve ridden,” Dale said of Ali’s Jab.

“He’s always been a bit of a freak.”

Ali’s Jab is coming off a last start win in a Benchmark race over 950 metres at Cairns on August 19.

“He’s always very competitive and gets the job done but he can be tricky to ride,” Dale said.

“You’ve got to let him jump out of the gates neutral and let him find his feet.”

Dale rates the Fred Wieland-trained Prime Ruler, winner of the Cairns Lightning, as the main threat to Ali’s Jab on Friday. 

“Prime Ruler is a very smart horse and is the one to beat after he won the Lightning last start,” he said.

“But, he’s up in the weights now where it hurts."