It has been twenty-two months since McHale last celebrated a win, but assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth believes the stable has identified the key to ending this drought.

The five-year-old gelding is scheduled to compete in Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes (1400m), seeking his first victory since Rachel King guided him to success in the 2024 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m).

Alysha Collett will take the reins on Saturday, the first female jockey aboard since King, and Duckworth considers this a significant detail.

“He obviously goes well for girls,” Duckworth stated.

“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 most notable result since then was a second-place finish in benchmark company at Rosehill last August, though he has performed creditably in several stakes races.

He was working home strongly when fifth behind Midnight Dynamite first-up in the Civic Stakes (1400m). From a favourable draw on Saturday, Duckworth is hopeful McHale can gain a more forward position in the run and be difficult to overcome.

“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 explained.

“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 be represented by Matusalem, who is running first-up and expected to improve, and Pippie Beach, who is returning from a Queensland campaign where she was placed in a Group 3 event two starts prior.

“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 commented.

Impressive debut winner Omolong is not a certainty to take his place in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) after drawing awkwardly in barrier nine.

The youngster settled at the tail of the field at Warwick Farm and powered home to win, but Duckworth noted it would be more challenging to give away a start over the 1100m at Rosehill. A decision will be made after scratchings.

“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 may be saved for other races, while Defenseman will take his place 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 said of Defenseman. “But from a soft draw, he should be right up behind the leaders and give himself every opportunity.”

McHale presents a strong prospect for the Winter Stakes. For those keen to place a bet, consider the available racing betting markets for this event.