Canberra trainer Matt Dale with make the trip to Ballarat with a strong three-horse team while also having runners closer to home at Kembla Grange.

The Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic (1000m) on Saturday was the first race to raise Dale’s interest in making the trip interstate where he will start debutant Malaboom.

Saturday’s race carries $250,000 in prize money and all-but carries a guaranteed start into the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January.

Not that that race is in Dale’s immediate thinking with Malaboom.

“We never push our two-year-olds too hard, so we’ll take it one step at a time,” Dale said.

“I was thinking this race and then the Listed Calaway Gal in three weeks in Brisbane and then assess where we sit from there.

“She’s drawn a little bit awkwardly on Saturday, but Damien Oliver rides and she’s quite natural filly that seems to take most things in her stride.

“There’s a lot of variables in the race, but if she can get into a position from that awkward alley, she’s there to run well.

“She’s had a couple of gallops Melbourne and handled it well.”

Malaboom has drawn the widest gate in Saturday’s 13-horse field but come into the race having won a Warwick Farm barrier trial running the fastest heat of the morning.

“She’s ticked over nicely, and this race bobbed up as a suitable target in the right sort of timeframe, so we’re happy to be bringing her down,” Dale said.

Dale has elected to start Penthouse in the Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO & 4YO Classic (1100m) instead of running the filly at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Two starts back, Penthouse was beaten just over two lengths by Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret at Scone.

“I thought it might be a nice race to kick off in as it can be a tricky race with horses down in the weights,” Dale said.

The third of Dale’s runners is Devils Triangle who runs in the Ritchies IGA Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) while he has three runners entered at Kembla Grange.