Fickle Melbourne weather could net Christmas week double for trainer Tom Dabernig

Boxing Day heat saw trainer Tom Dabernig avoid a Listed race with Fickle with a view to a date at The Valley on Saturday. And after winning the race with a stablemate, a lucrative double looms.

Fickle, ridden by Craig Williams, wins at Caulfield Heath on December 12. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

Trainer Tom Dabernig is chasing a third straight win with Fickle on Saturday at The Valley.

The lightly-raced progressive mare has won three of seven starts including the past two at The Valley and Caulfield Heath.

Fickle was in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) on Boxing Day at Caulfield Heath but hot weather and potential for a firm track swayed Dabernig and connections towards The Valley.

Dabernig, who won the Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day with Ashford Street, said Fickle should run well in the 1000m Fillies and Mares race.

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“I must admit the owners were just a bit worried about the heat, the firm track, all that,” Dabernig said.

“We saw with the cool change coming and Moonee Valley (won at track before), barrier one and favourite there, obviously the black type was appealing but the wide gate (12 of 13).”

Fickle is a $2.40 favourite for the Benchmark 70 from Mighty ($7), Takeko ($8), Excess ($9) and Miss Cotoletta ($9).

A four-year-old I Am Invincible mare, Fickle has won three of five starts for Dabernig and been runner-up twice.

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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Mighty, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, looms as a threat to the favourite.

The Spirit Of Boom mare has won two of four starts first-up previously including a Fillies and Mares 1000m dash last campaign.

The ex-Queenslander got around The Valley nicely on debut for the Moody-Coleman yard last February, placed fourth of 10 beaten 1.45 lengths in a 955m Benchmark 70.