Young Canberra trainer Matthew Dale believes his comeback to racing is starting to gain momentum and he is hoping Gathering Light will continue the roll at Randwick on Wednesday.Gathering Light is part of Dale's new-look team and she lines-up in the Little Bay Handicap (1800m) at the meeting to be run on the Kensington track.The 26-year-old Dale took a six month break from racing before returning for a stint as foreman to Randwick trainer John O'Shea in February last year.Shortly after his three

Young Canberra trainer Matthew Dale believes his comeback to racing is starting to gain momentum and he is hoping Gathering Light will continue the roll at Randwick on Wednesday.

Gathering Light is part of Dale's new-look team and she lines-up in the Little Bay Handicap (1800m) at the meeting to be run on the Kensington track.

The 26-year-old Dale took a six month break from racing before returning for a stint as foreman to Randwick trainer John O'Shea in February last year.

Shortly after his three months with O'Shea, Dale made his return to training in Canberra.

"I came back with a slightly different outlook on racing and I'm now looking at more quality rather than quantity," Dale said.

"You can never learn enough and I picked up plenty from John and things are starting to come together now.

"We've got 10 in work and I'm looking to expand the team to 20."

Dale, who was making a name for himself before he took the break, admits the time off was one of the best things he's ever done after training full time since he was 20.

"I'd been going flat-out with the horses in all that time and there were a few other things I wanted to do outside of racing and the time off allowed me to do them," Dale said.

"I'm looking at buying a property and building a house and used the time off to have look at some land and that type of thing and I also travelled around New Zealand for a month."

Gathering Light, a Carnegie mare, comes into the 1800 metre race after running fifth to Lou's Princess at Canterbury over 1550 metres on December 18.

"She had to work hard to cross from a wide gate (8) and with Canterbury being a tight turning track it really was a difficult assignment for her," Dale said.

The four-year-old showed good early speed to eventually lead but was placed under pressure throughout by Visa Lisa.

"Despite not getting a moment's rest she still kicked strongly and only finished a length off the winner," Dale said.

Gathering Light came into the Canterbury race after consecutive victories at Gundagai and Wagga Wagga.

"We gave her a couple of confidence boosters and ironed out a few problems she had," Dale said.

"She's got a couple of wins over 1400 metres and stepping to this trip will suit her and she should go well."

Jim Cassidy has the ride on Gathering Light who will jump from barrier nine.