Matt Dunn and Nash Rawiller look set for massive day at The Gong meeting

Country star Cepheus headlines another strong metropolitan attack for trainer Matthew Dunn and his most reliable jockey Nash Rawiller.

Nash Rawiller will reconnect with Cepheus in The Gong on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

One of this season’s most formidable partnerships will look to cap off a memorable spring when country weapon Cepheus hunts another big-race scalp in Saturday’s $1m The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.

Dynamic-duo Matthew Dunn and Nash Rawiller will go in pursuit of a third feature spring win with Cepheus as the trainer-jockey prepare to combine with three leading chances on the massive Gong card.

No rider has delivered more for Dunn this season than Rawiller.

While only riding 12 times for Dunn, Rawiller boasts a 50 per cent winning strike rate with six victories and two placings.

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Two of those victories have come in partnership with country star Cepheus before they combined to finish a solid second to Attractable in the Big Dance last start.

Cepheus has been set a task to win again in The Gong with a topweight of 61kg but Dunn believes the gun son of Sea The Stars heads to the feature assignment racing at the top of his game.

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“I was hoping we would get 60kg but he has probably earned it,” Dunn said.

“He has been in a while but he is not showing any sign that he has come to the end of it, he is thriving actually.

“He will never have a long spell because of the tendon injury but when he has had enough we will take him to the beach every day to freshen him up before we go again.

“He is great. He is racing as good now as he has ever and Nash will be on him again.”

It was a big run under a big weight in the $3m Big Dance last start from the highly-talented CEPHEUS.

Having continued to thrive, he'll be looking to go one better in Saturday's $1m race 'The Gong' at Kembla Grange. 🏆@mattydunnracing@7horseracing@racing_nswpic.twitter.com/ysoDhAfxNa

— OTI Racing (@OTIRacing) November 22, 2023

Cepheus is a $6.50 TAB chance for The Gong where a field of 16 runners and four emergencies was revealed on Wednesday.

Premier trainer Chris Waller has accepted with five contenders headlined by talented entire Osipenko ($3.30 fav).

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Dunn’s two other runners on the card are both favourites with impressive last start winner Emperor ($2.15 fav) set to contest the Elite Sand & Soil Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m).

Dunn is confident Emperor, a half-brother to Thousand Guineas winner Joliestar, is destined for bigger things.

“It’s his first preparation as a gelding after he had all these little problems,” he said.

“He was dominant first-up as I sort of expected him to be in that grade and steps into a stronger race on Saturday but only needs to reproduce that to be competitive.

“His sister won the Thousand Guineas the other day Joliestar so she gave the impression that maybe he could get over a bit further but he’s given me the impression he’s a 1000-1200m horse.”

Stablemate Tribeca Star ($2.50) looks similarly hard to beat in the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1400m).

Rawiller booted home the smart son of Star Turn last start and Dunn believes he can double the dose despite being lumped with 61.5kg.

“He’s got weight again but he should run well,” he said.

“It’s a nice little space between but he’s in good shape and he should go close again.”

Originally published as Matt Dunn and Nash Rawiller look set for massive day at The Gong meeting