Potential 2024 Stradbroke Handicap contender to emerge at Doomben: Trainer Matthew Dunn

Matt Dunn can’t remember the last time he had such a big team heading to a Saturday metropolitan meeting in Brisbane, and there are some exciting gallopers among them.

Exciting Boom Torque pictured wins a $1m race on Gold Coast Magic Millions day for trainer Matt Dunn. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

It could be a marquee day for Matt Dunn at Doomben who will showcase a potential Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap contender, and an emerging young horse he believes could one day become his best.

Murwillumbah trainer Dunn will deploy nine runners at Doomben on Saturday and says it is a long time since he has unleashed such a big team on a Brisbane Saturday card.

Headlining his team is excitement machine Boom Torque who was last seen winning a $1m race on Gold Coast Magic Millions day in breathtaking fashion, coming from the tail of the field to overpower his rivals which included Group 1 winner Rothfire.

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BOOM TORQUE 💥🔧 exploded down the center to take the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open at @GCTurfClub | @SkyRacingWorld. A gelding by Spirit Of Boom (@eurekastud) trained by Matthew Dunn with Michael Dee up!

Wager on the Magic Millions card on the @FDSportsbook! pic.twitter.com/QB4O2nR2rM

— TVG (@TVG) January 13, 2024

Boom Torque, who Dunn hopes could become a Stradbroke Handicap contender in the Queensland winter carnival, is the $2.60 favourite to continue on his winning ways and take out the 1350m Open Handicap.

Dunn has had Boom Torque for six starts and he has won five, becoming one of the most improving and rapidly emerging talents in the land.

“When I got him, I didn’t for one minute think he would get to where he has now got to,” Dunn said.

“But you know who did? Jimmy Orman. He won a race on him one day for me and came back and said ‘this horse is really good’.

“The horse is not a star worker, he doesn’t do anything extraordinary at home.

“But he is just one of those horses that every time you throw something in front of him, he steps up. He is a proper racehorse.

“He is quite incredible, he just goes home eats his food and goes to sleep, you wouldn’t even know he was here.”

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Matt Dunn could be in for a big day on Saturday.

Boom Torque, now with a rating of 92, produced the most dazzling win of Magic Millions day apart from 2YO Classic winner Storm Boy.

Dunn gave him little chance when watching the race, stuck a long way back in the field and with a power of work to do.

But the manner in which he got home over some talented horses made Dunn think he could aim for the stars in the Stradbroke this winter.

“He was only second-up in the Magic Millions and I had to rush him along to get him to that day too,” Dunn said.

“We got spat out the back early and I thought that was the end of his chances.

“But just the way he rounded them up, and he was decisive, he beat them properly.

“If he keeps improving, could be a lightweight chance in a Stradbroke? I think he probably could.”

Another key plank of Dunn’s powerful Doomben Saturday team is emerging colt Fukubana who is the $1.60 favourite in the QTIS 3YO Handicap (1200m).

Talented Matt Dunn-trained youngster Fukubana will be unleashed as a short-priced favourite at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Dunn thinks the colt will justify the short betting quote – and could one day become the best horse in his stable.

“I think he is very good, I was kicking stones that he got beaten first-up at Doomben, but looking back there were a few things against him,” Dunn said.

“He did all the work from 600m mark and was still good late and after the line, he ran past them all.

“I have got a massive wrap on him. I think he’s potentially probably my best horse.

“I know he hasn’t really achieved that on race day yet, but once he gets his head around racing I think he will be a really good horse.”

Originally published as Potential 2024 Stradbroke Handicap contender to emerge at Doomben: Trainer Matthew Dunn