No time like present for Fred’s Gift debut
WHEN deciding on a name for his new brown filly, the choice was obvious for Cannon Park trainer Mark Dale.
The former Mackay trainer was handed the now threeyear-old filly by an old mate, Glen Avon founder and longtime studmaster Fred Brown.
“She was a little bit on the small size for the sales and Fred decided to keep her,” Dale said yesterday as the filly prepared for her first ever career start at Cairns today.
“He rang me out of the blue one day and asked me if I wanted her. Hence the name ‘Fred’s Gift’.”
Fred’s Gift, by Markane from Sequently, will make her debut in the second race this afternoon, the $7500 QTIS Maiden Plate (1250m) at Cairns Jockey Club.
Dale, a jockey before he turned to training, had been keen to run the filly at Maree- ba last week before the rain set in following a recent promising trial.
“Fred was the principal of Glen Avon Lodge for a lot of years, before selling it, but kept a few mares of his own and a stallion too,” Dale said.
“This is the last horse that Fred Brown has bred. “The filly has a lot of natural ability.”
Dale relocated from Mack- ay to Cairns late last year with Vo Treasure and Testatime carrying the stable in recent months before Fred’s Gift’s debut.
Townsville hoop Jeffrey Felix takes the ride this afternoon.
“She is doing everything right on the track,” Dale said.
“She has drawn badly, which never helps at the best of times, let alone when she is having her first start. But she will be more than competitive.”
Today’s meeting was transferred to Cannon Park following Einasleigh’s race meeting being abandoned due to weather and the state of the track from the effects of exTropical Cyclone Nora.
Meanwhile, Mackay trainers dominated the early stages of racing at Cluden Park on Thursday afternoon as Lyle Wright and John Manzelmann took out the first two events on the program.
Cairns hoop Sonja Wiseman rode a winner later in the day, combining with Old Smokey, trained by Trinity Bannon.
SHE HAS DRAWN BADLY, WHICH NEVER HELPS AT THE BEST OF TIMES, LET ALONE WHEN SHE IS HAVING HER FIRST START. BUT SHE WILL BE MORE THAN COMPETITIVE MARK DALE, TRAINER OF FRED’S GIFT