Trainer Tom Dabernig saddles up Ashford Street, Romantic Choice and Fickle in 2024 Christmas Stakes at Caulfield Heath

Trainer Tom Dabernig has a three-pronged attack on the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day with a seasoned campaigner and two rising mares.

Tom Dabernig has accepted with three runners for Thursday's Listed Christmas Stakes: Ashford Street (right), Romantic Choice (top left) and Fickle.

Trainer Tom Dabernig has a three-pronged attack on the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day.

Seasoned sprinter Ashford Street spearheads the raid from lightly-raced and progressive mares Romantic Choice and Fickle, both in line for hat-tricks.

The Dabernig trio drew wide in barriers, seven, nine and 12 respectively.

“They’ve both (Fickle and Romantic Choice) won their last two starts in town,” Dabernig said.

“Down on the minimum (weight on Thursday) we’ll try for a little black type.

“He’s (Ashford Street) quite a good Caulfield horse … we trialled him at Camperdown and he won his trial, which was more of a spin around to get his fitness up.”

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Ashford Street has won and been runner-up twice in five starts on the Caulfield course proper for Dabernig.

“Tough old Ashford Street is a hard-to-catch horse,” Dabernig said.

“He’s probably the seasoned performer with his rating and the other two are definitely on the way up, their confidence is up and they’re very fit and well.”

Fickle has led and dominated low grade sprints with authority at The Valley and Caulfield Heath her past two starts with champion jockey Craig Williams in the saddle.

Williams has elected to maintain an association with Mrs Chrissie, trained by Ciaron Maher, in the Christmas Stakes on Thursday after they bolted in at Ballarat a fortnight ago.

Romantic Choice has notched back-to-back wins at Caulfield Heath.

Romantic Choice blows them away in the 1000m contest 🫶@jordynweatherl1 collects her first winner in town with a perfect ride... 💫@dabernigracingpic.twitter.com/4Tg0PkTfRw

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 12, 2024

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“There’s the Black Pearl (Geelong, 1200m on January 4) but they’re both 1000m-1100m mares, the hot weather I’m not quite sure how that will affect things,” Dabernig said.

“They’re both winners there (Caulfield Heath), all three of ours sit up on the pace so that might be a bit interesting, I’m sure there’ll be other in the race in a similar place (vying for the front).”

Fickle has been a great pick-up for Dabernig, winning three of five for the stable after being sent down from Sydney a two-start maiden.

Fickle holds Rewards And More at bay, winning as the long odds on favourite 💨@dabernigracing collect a race-to-race double at the Caulfield Heath ✌️@CWilliamsJockeypic.twitter.com/yT7pL6C2H6

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 12, 2024

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“She’s a very well-bred mare, she started with (Peter and Paul) Snowden but had pretty immature knees and they sent her to Warrnambool thinking the beach might be her thing,” Dabernig said.

“I probably just got her at the right time, I think she’s actually quite a handy mare potentially.

“It’s a funny time of year to keep going and the autumn comes around quick, she’s only lightly raced.

“If we run well in the Listed race we can afford to have a bit of an easy month and February things start cranking up again.

Dabernig has 32 winners this season, striking at a healthy 19.5 per cent.

The astute horseman has picked off seven metropolitan winners from only 37 starters.

Originally published as Trainer Tom Dabernig saddles up Ashford Street, Romantic Choice and Fickle in 2024 Christmas Stakes at Caulfield Heath