Trainer Matthew Dunn in Big Dance warm up at Ballina on Monday
Trainer Matthew Dunn will be chasing some wins at Ballina on Monday ahead of stable veteran Impasse’s shot at $2 million in the inaugural The Big Dance at Randwick on Tuesday.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TRAINER Matthew Dunn is hoping history will repeat come Tuesday when his blue-blooded gelding Impasse lines-up in the inaugural $2 million ATC The Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Dunn’s galloper is one of three horses in the race to have won nine races, the fifth of Impasse’s came at Doomben on Melbourne Cup day in 2018.
Impasse’s $4.20 ‘SP’ that day is a long way short of his $34 TAB Fixed Odds quote in Tuesday’s Big Dance but Dunn’s horse has garnered a reputation of exceeding expectations.
“He was 50/1 the last time he won and the time before he was about 100/1 so he gets up when people write him off,’’ Dunn said.
Impasse earned his ticket into The Big Dance courtesy of his now trademark barnstorming last to first win in his hometown Murwillumbah Cup on August 19.
Dunn’s eight-year-old has only had one start since, finishing a pleasing sixth of 12 in a 1200m Benchmark 85 at Eagle Farm on October 1.
“The times that he has won and ran well are times when you go into the race thinking he is underdone so that’s the path we took with him going into The Big Dance,’’ Dunn explained.
Impasse managed to win the Murwillumbah Cup despite drawing the outside barrier.
The son of Golden Slipper winner Sepoy and Silver Slipper winner Amelia’s Dream has fared slightly better on Tuesday but not by much.
“He’ll be back anyway,’’ Dunn says. ‘’I suppose the question is the mile and we wouldn’t want to be trying to ride him up on speed over that trip anyway to give him a chance to make sure he finishes nice and strong.
“Every time he has won he has been back last and driving up along the inside fence.’’
Dunn’s Big Dance Eve duties are at Monday’s Ballina meeting where he saddles-up four-year-old trio Bedouin More, Feirme Prince and Kermantic.
A son of Kermadec, Kermantic took bronze at his last start at Murwillumbah in what was a clean sweep of the medals for Dunn trained horses.
Despite finishing third of the stable trio, there was as much merit – maybe more, in Kermantic’s performance given the circumstances of the race.
“He was as good as the other two because they didn’t go quick and the spot that they were in at the top of the straight is where they finished, it was just tempo related,’’ Dunn explained.
“This race is not as strong as that was, there were some Class 3 and 4 horses in that race.
“Just the gate concerns me. He is probably going to have to go all the way back at Ballina so that’s the only worry.’’
Stablemate Fierme Prince is more likely to be leading than chasing in his assignment given barrier one.
The son of Shalaa squandered his chance of a Sunshine Coast win on October 2 when hopping in the air at the start.
“His trial was good the other day,’’ says Dunn. “He mixes it up a little bit but hopefully he will turn up and run well.’’
Originally published as Trainer Matthew Dunn in Big Dance warm up at Ballina on Monday
Pride Of Jenni crowned Australia’s top racehorse
After dazzling Australian racing with her bold frontrunning style, superstar mare Pride Of Jenni has been crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year in Adelaide on Tuesday night.
Ottobre gives Jenni’s Cox Plate lead-up wish
Ciaron Maher has plenty of options with star mare Pride Of Jenni but owner Tony Ottobre has given his preference for her last lead-up run before the Cox Plate.