This time two years ago Peter Nestor was preparing Dane De Lago for a crack at the Country Championships but on Monday he will be lining up at Orange.
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Dane De Lago, who ran second in the Dubbo Qualifier and raced in the inaugural Country Championships Final in 2015, will line up from barrier three in Monday’s Atlas Copco Benchmark 55 Handicap (1400m).
The event at Orange marks his second start back this preparation after running 12th first up over 1100m at Dubbo on February 19.
He carried 61.5kg that day while he will carry just 54kg on Monday with Michael Travers in the saddle.
There are three other Dubbo hopes in the race.
Connie Greig’s Underground Blues is almost certain to be favourite, having scored a win, two seconds and a third in her past four starts.
The win came at Tamworth two starts back.
The in-form mare has scored four wins from 26 starts in her career and will jump from barrier four with in-form apprentice Jean Van Overmeire in the saddle.
Bridget Jones’ Iona Nicconi will make her first start since running ninth in last month’s $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier while rounding out the Dubbo contingent is Brian Young’s Laugharne, making his second start after a 12-week let-up.
Supreme Laird, Immy, Oakwood Lady, Mugga Malley and Brave Jay round out the field.
Orange will host eight races on Monday, with the first at 1.20pm and the Benchmark 55 Handicap (1400m) being seventh up at 5.05pm.