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By Ray Hickson

He’s had a TAB Everest runner, a placegetter in The Kosciuszko and on Sunday at Nowra trainer Matt Dale is hoping to secure his first runner in a Newhaven Park Country Championships Final.

Trainer Matthew Dale (Pic: Bradley).

But Dale is no stranger to Day 1 of The Star Championships as his former star sprinter Fell Swoop was placed in successive TJ Smith Stakes. The gelding also contested the inaugural TAB Everest while Dale’s warhorse Man Of Peace ran third in the 2020 The Kosciuszko.

The Canberra trainer lost his number one contender when Molly Nails bled in her second-up run at Warwick Farm recently but is sure city winner Meg and up and comer Cavalier Charles have what it takes to be more than competitive in the $150,000 Newhaven Park South East Country Championships (1400m).

Of course a top two finish by either or both horses would earn Dale that elusive starter in the $500,000 Final on April 2.

“We have two good chances in what looks to be a very competitive race,’’ Dale said.

“You could make a decent case for more than half the field.”

Cavalier Charles earned his place in the race with a dominant first-up Class 2 win at the Sapphire Coast carnival two weeks ago where he showed a new side to himself in the all the way victory.

The lightly raced five-year-old, $9.50 with TAB on Saturday, drops 3kg on that win and Dale said it wouldn’t surprise if he measured up.

“He was off a long break and I thought he ran really well, he showed a different string to his bow,’’ he said.

“He’s often come from behind but he led that day by default. It wasn’t the intention but Nick (Heywood) rode to instinct and rode the race and showed he can be versatile.

“That’s always handy, to be able to ride them any which way is a luxury.

“He is lightly raced for his age but it’s never been through lack of ability. He returned in great order and has ticked over nicely since.”

Dale has added the blinkers to four-year-old mare Meg after she disappointed at Randwick back on January 22, beating one home and 11 lengths from Bega Cup winner Room Number.

He’s shrugging off that performance as her second-up win told him Meg ($17) was on target and is hoping for a solidly run 1400m race.

“She had a slight chiropractic issue after that (Randwick) race but she’s worked well since and the blinkers go back on,’’ he said.

“She has a barrier to ride her where it suits and also however the track pattern is playing. She looks well placed to run well, she’s just got to bounce back to form.

Cavalier Charles wins at Sapphire Coast on January 30

“You don’t like going into these races off a disappointing run but this is horse racing, you’ve got to tick all the boxes you can which we’ve done and I’m sure she will run well.”

First-up winner Toretto won Dale over with his dominant fresh win at Goulburn and he will only be better suited in the Go Steel Building Products Plate (1400m).

“His whole racing career he was slightly underperformed from what I expected of him until last start at Goulburn when he put them away,’’ he said.

“That was really good to see, he seems to have got confidence from that win and I’ve been happy with him between runs.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Nowra