Kosciuszko winner Front Page primed to fire second-up in Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick

Trainer Matt Dale is confident Kosciuszko winner Front Page can replicate his strong first-up showing when he lines up at Royal Randwick this weekend.

Backing up a brilliant first-up display in Saturday’s Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick would be an important step towards conquering racing’s final frontier for dual The Kosciuszko hero Front Page.

Trainer Matt Dale is hungry to snare a Group 1 with Front Page this preparation and will attempt to lay further foundations for a Brisbane winter carnival raid on All Aged Stakes day in Sydney.

Front Page has been a brilliant first-up performer throughout his career and produced another stellar fresh display after narrowly going down when third in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m).

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But producing the same dash second-up from a spell has proven more difficult throughout Front Page’s career ahead of his latest second-up assignment.

“I think he can back it up,” Dale said.

“This preparation I know him a lot more than last preparation. He has had a faultless preparation after a really good build up to The Galaxy.

“I think it gives him every opportunity to dispel that theory that he doesn’t go as well second up.

“He has had a good balanced preparation and I think he will run very well.”

What a finish in the @kiaorastud Galaxy!

Zapateo 🤯 salutes at huge odds over Sunshine In Paris and a gallant Front Page 🐴@KPMcEvoy times his ride perfectly for @godolphin@JamesCummings88#ExpectItAll#TABGoldenSlipperpic.twitter.com/ergnbO93KM

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 23, 2024

Dale only received Front Page to train from Geoff Duryea before his second The Kosciuszko win last spring and plans to continue to set the bar high with the gun son of Magnus for the remainder of this preparation.

A Group 1 date at Doomben looms if the seven-year-old runs as expected in Sydney this weekend.

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“I am thinking the Doomben 10,000 is the likely target and then obviously the Kingsford-Smith (Cup) after that at 1300m,” Dale said.

“Certainly the Doomben 10,000 is the main race and then we can spell him after his Queensland campaign and start preparing him to run on The Everest day first-up.

“There is three races there for him on The Everest day but if he wins the Group 1 that obviously rules him out of one of them (the Kosciuszko).”

Front Page is the $2.80 favourite for Saturday’s Hall Mark Stakes from exciting sprinter Airman ($3.50) and Godolphin talent Vilana ($5).

Originally published as Kosciuszko winner Front Page primed to fire second-up in Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick