Canberra sprinter Unanimously wins the Wagga Town Plate. Photo: Les Smith
Talented Canberra sprinter Unanimously recaptured his best form to claim a runaway victory in the $80,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) on Thursday.
Canberra trainer Matthew Dale claimed his second Town Plate as he combined with top Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield to land the feature.
Schofield sent Unanimously straight to the front and from there dictated the race as he gapped his rivals in the straight to score one of the most convincing Town Plate victories in years.
Unanimously ($4.20) backed up the punters' faith to finish three lengths in front of fellow Canberra sprinter Vilakazi Street ($7), who was forced to settle for second place like last year. The Guy Walter-trained Skateboard ($8) flashed home to finish a half-length behind in third, while local hope Living On A Prayer ($6) had no luck from the wide gate to finish 10th.
Dale has a great strike rate when travelling to Wagga and was proud of Unanimously for backing up after an unsuccessful trip to Toowoomba for the Weetwood.
''I had to pull out all stops to freshen him up for this,'' Dale said. ''The long float trip to and from Queensland took a lot out of him and he came back a little bit jaded.
''We did everything we could to try and sharpen him up for this and the right horse turned up today. It's a credit to him. I'm rapt.''
Unanimously was in super form earlier this preparation, highlighted by a luckless fifth behind Mrs Onassis in the group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
Since then his form had dropped off and left Dale struggling for answers.
He went into the Town Plate unsure how Unanimously would perform but the five-year-old produced the goods to take his career earnings past the $450,000 mark.
''We changed his routine and just didn't do a great deal with him since he got back [from Queensland],'' Dale said.
''This is a pretty special occasion. He's a good horse that gives 110 per cent every start. He's taken us across Australia.
''You can do anything you want with him and for him to win like that today, I'm very proud.''
It was Schofield's first Wagga Town Plate success, just two years after his son Chad burst on to the scene to win the race as a fresh-faced 17-year-old.
Unanimously scored in a time of 1:09.76 for the 1200-metre trip. It was the highlight of a big day for Dale as he landed a winning treble.
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