Trainers Matthew Dunn and Matthew Dale go head to head in TAB Highway with leading chances

TRAINERS Matthew Dunn and Canberra trainer Matthew Dale have dominated the TAB Highway series, and both go head to head with good chances on Saturday.

Madame De Ban is favourite to win the TAB Highway 1500m event for trainer Matthew Dunn on Saturday. Picture: Jenny Evans

IT’S Matt versus Matt.

Since the inception of the TAB Highway concept Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn and Canberra trainer Matthew Dale have made a good fist of dominating the innovative series for country-trained horses.

So far Dunn heads the leaderboard with six wins, all this season, while the early dominator Dale claimed his fifth a month ago and they go head to head at Rosehill on Saturday.

South Coast trainer Terry Robinson also has five but a dream clash between the three “Kings of the Highway” will have to wait after Robinson scratched Louis’ Choice from the race.

Dunn has really mastered the art of overcoming the 10-hour trip from Murwillumbah and he’s confident Madame De Ban will get her chance to add to his haul in the 1500m event.

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The mare has already contested one Highway, at her third race start back in January, but Dunn said she’s much better suited this time around.

“She has a bit more experience and she’s a bit tougher,” Dunn said.

“Her run wasn’t bad that day either, she didn’t jump properly and got a bit lost midrace.

“It’s a pretty strong Highway race though, Matt Dale’s horse (Circle Game) has got some good form but I think she is up to them.”

Trainer Matthew Dunn has six TAB Highway wins. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Madame De Ban has finished third in all three runs since a spell but Dunn said her favourable barrier is a significant boost to her chances.

At her latest start she was beaten less than a length in a Class 3 at Eagle Farm on December 10 after drawing 14 of 16.

“Her runs have all been good this preparation but she hasn’t had much luck,” he said.

“She was stuck deep the other day and never really got in. I think she lines up pretty well for a race like this with the form she has.’’

Matt Dale has been marking time waiting for the Highway race for his promising mare Circle Game, who returned with a dazzling win at Canberra a month ago.

The four-year-old was first-up since a 2000m win on a heavy track and Dale was rapt with the way she sprinted over the short course.

“I thought she returned in great order at the 1200m,’’ Dale said.

“This Highway race appeared to be the right race for her and that’s the only reason she’s been a month between runs.’’

Circle Game has also had one previous Highway attempt, for a fourth over 1200m back in April, and like Dunn, Dale believes she’ll be better suited with the extra trip.

“It should be a genuinely run race with the big field, ideally I’d like to find myself second-up after three weeks and not four but she has done very well,” he said.

“She looks a lot more mature and seems to have a lot better turn of foot this preparation.’’

Trainer Matthew Dale will be represented by Circle Game in the TAB Highway. Picture: Gary Ramage

Away from the Highway race, Matthew Dunn believes almost all the planets have aligned for Perfect Dare to complete his Magic Millions preparation in the TAB Handicap (1200m).

The only minus he can find is the presence of David Pfieffer’s in-form Ziggy Willie, who stays in Sydney after being scratched from Doomben.

Ziggy Willie is the horse that ran down Perfect Dare over the same course three weeks ago.

“I was trying to dodge Ziggy Willie because I’m sick of him running past my horses,’’ Dunn said.

“We meet him better at the weights and have drawn a decent gate this time.

“They worked him pretty hard, he didn’t get over easily, and he did a good job to hold the rest of the field off.”

HIGHWAY DOMINATORS

MATT DUNN

Isla Tristana

Delightful Feeling (x2)

Sunny Fame

Hanwritten

Quatronic

MATT DALE

Thelittleracketeer

Royal Jackpot

Hermosa Beach

Shadow Affair

Bitburg

Originally published as Trainers Matthew Dunn and Matthew Dale go head to head in TAB Highway with leading chances