Dale sets three-pronged attack on ‘The Yarra’

With star sprinter Brenlyn’s Legacy leading the way, Andrew Dale will saddle three runners in Sunday’s Eurell’s Narrandera & Yamaha Golf Cars Narrungdera Yarraman Sprint (1000m).

The $40,000 feature event continues to grow in stature, and Brenlyn’s Legacy (Zoe Waller, Gate 3) will be joined by stablemates Eamonn’s Memory (Brodie Loy, Gate 5) and Hells Son (Jake Duffy, Gate 7) as Dale looks to write his own piece of history in the popular event.

“It’s a race we identified pretty early on, and it’s good to have three chances,” Dale said.

Running as a Benchmark 74 Handicap, Brenlyn’s Legacy gets in as one of the heavyweights, and will carry 60.5kg after Waller’s 2kg claim.

The 3YO Redente gelding strung together four consecutive wins last year and into early this year, scoring at Wodonga, Albury and Wagga (x2). After being tested in stronger company, the Wangaratta galloper was spelled before returning with two encouraging trials at home.

“He took improvement from the first trial to the second, and there’s no doubt he’ll line up as one of the better chances,” Dale said.

"He gets a little difficult to place – we pay the price for winning four local races quickly. Late last preparation we took him to Adelaide, where he conceded weight to a black-type horse, then he ran in the Flat Knacker – a feature sprint during the annual Albury carnival – and wasn’t disgraced.

“He’s come back nicely, so the objective this prep is to hit the ground running. If he can win at Narrandera, we’ll have a crack in town and see where he sits on the pecking order.”

While Brenlyn’s Legacy has opened as the $3.90 TAB favourite, Dale wasn’t discounting his other runners.

“They both have each-way chances, and a lot will depend on how the race plays out,” he said.

“Over 1000m, you can get three or four runners going hard early. Brenlyn’s Legacy will go forward, and if there’s a speed duel, Eamonn’s Memory ($17) and Hells Son ($12) might be able to finish over the top of them.”

While Dale’s trio will have their fair share of supporters, ‘The Yarra’ has attracted a strong field.

Top weight Big Day Out (Cassidy Hill, $7), trained by Craig Weeding, won at Wagga on Monday, putting away a good field in the 1000m Benchmark 82 Handicap.

Fellow Victorian Narcissist (Brendan Ward, $6.50) arrives from the Brett Mallyon yard, and will be stepping up in class following good wins in his own class at Albury and Corowa earlier this year.

Another serious chance is the Pat Murphy-trained Aegipan (Shaun Guymer, $6.50). The Goulburn galloper is a proven open-class sprinter who will command plenty of respect.

About our feature sprint

Narrungdera Yarraman is from the Wiradjuri language, with the town’s name, Narrandera, derived from Narrungdera, which translates to “place of many lizards”.

Yarraman translates to ‘horse’, and the feature sprint on the Narrandera Cup program, now more commonly known as ‘The Yarra’, leans into the region’s rich Indigenous history and the fact that Narrandera is located in the heart of Wiradjuri Country in the Riverina.

Narrandera Race Club respectfully acknowledges the Wiradjuri people, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands where we meet to race.

Words: Jeff Hanson

Image: Racing Photos

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