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By Ray Hickson

Matthew Dale is counting the days until top sprinter Front Page walks into his stable after being announced as the new trainer of the reigning Kosciuszko champion.

And it’s unlikely we’ll see the rising seven-year-old in action until the $2 million country feature run on TAB Everest Day as Dale confirmed he’ll be set to run in the race first-up.

Front Page needed a new trainer when Geoff Duryea made the surprise decision to retire, with his final runners going around on Monday, and Dale is excited to take on the challenge of a Kosciuszko defence.

Matthew Dale (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“It’s a good result. We’ve been talking to Paul, the managing owner, over the last few days and we’re rapt he’s elected to carry on,’’ Dale said.

“He’s a very likely selected Kosciuszko horse, as usually those top five in the market are. It’s a privilege to get him to train and we’re looking forward it.”

The gelding is a $6 chance in TAB’s all-in Kosciuszko market.

Since his Kosciuszko win last year, Front Page has raced five times including contesting four Group 1 races, with his best result his last start sixth in the Goodwood in Adelaide, and he finished a gallant second to Mnementh in the Wagga Town Plate under a big weight.

Dale said while he’s obviously well aware of Front Page’s ability he’ll be leaving nothing to chance in getting to know the horse both before he arrives and once he’s in his care.

“We’ve watched from up close, we were there on Kosciuszko day and the last two (Wagga) Town Plates and we have a lot of respect for the ability of the horse,’’ Dale said.

“He’s a high class sprinter and some of his performances in Group races in Melbourne have been solid.

“He’s had a good spell off the back of Adelaide and is pretty much ready to come up.

“I’ll have a good chat to Geoff in regards to idiosyncrasies and quirks, previous ailments, the power of information there is vital in regards to being ahead of the game.”

While Dale has been handed a live Kosciuszko chance he says it shouldn’t be forgotten that Cavalier Charles ran fourth in the race last year and is being prepared for another shot.

Also a rising seven-year-old, the gelding was a Rosehill winner in December and chased home Another One and Handle The Truth in the National Sprint (1400m) at Canberra at his last run in March.

“He’ll have one or two runs leading into Kosciuszko, he’s a likely candidate,’’ Dale said.

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