Twenty-two months have passed since McHale last registered a victory, but assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth feels the stable may have discovered the formula to end this drought.
The five-year-old gelding is set to compete in Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes (1400m), aiming for his first win since Rachel King was aboard for his victory in the 2024 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m).
Alysha Collett will take the reins on Saturday, the first female jockey to ride him since King, and Duckworth suggests this could prove significant.
“He obviously goes well for girls,” Duckworth said.
“Whether people read into that or not – some do, some don’t – he won the Bill Ritchie with Rachel King and now he’s got Alysha Collett.
“It all sets up beautifully for him on Saturday.”
McHale’s best performance since his last win was a second in benchmark company at Rosehill last August, although he has been competitive in several stakes races.
He was running on strongly when fifth behind Midnight Dynamite first-up in the Civic Stakes (1400m). With a draw towards the inside on Saturday, Duckworth hopes McHale can secure a closer position in the run and be a genuine threat.
“When he won the Bill Ritchie leading into the Epsom, he looked like he was going to be a really promising horse, and he hit that mark and just hasn’t quite found his way through,” he commented.
“It was an awesome run first-up. He’s drawn much better, so he will naturally settle three lengths closer as a result.
“That should put him right in it. I think he’s a genuine winning chance.”
The Chris Waller stable will also feature Matusalem, who is resuming and expected to improve with racing, and Pippie Beach, who returns from a Queensland campaign where she was placed in a Group 3 race two starts ago.
“She’s going well. Two starts back was much better than last start which didn’t quite go to plan, but if she can bounce back to that form where she ran third to Pinito then she’s right in it,” Duckworth added.
Impressive debut winner Omolong is not guaranteed a start in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) after drawing barrier nine.
The youngster settled last at Warwick Farm and came home with a powerful finish to win, but Duckworth noted it is more difficult to give away a start over the 1100m at Rosehill. They will await scratchings before making a decision.
“There is no real rush with him. There are options next week and the week after, over different distances, admittedly,” Duckworth said.
Stablemates Letters Patent and Joint Venture could be directed towards other races, while Defenseman will contest the race from barrier four after finishing second first-up over 1250m at Canterbury.
“He is actually a really good horse, he just needs things to go his way and it hasn’t so far in his career,” Duckworth remarked about Defenseman. “But from a soft draw, he should be right up behind the leaders and give himself every opportunity.”
McHale looks like a strong contender in the Winter Stakes. For those looking to bet, consider the numerous betting sites for the best odds.
