Trainer Matt Dunn insists best yet to come for six-year-old Belvedere Boys

Trainer Matt Dunn declared the best of Belvedere Boys is still ahead of him as his stable looks to cap off a sensational week with a Sydney stakes success at Rosehill.

Trainer Matt Dunn has declared Belvedere Boys’ best is still ahead of him as his stable looks to cap off a sensational week with a Sydney stakes success at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Dunn trained a four-timer at Thursday’s Lismore meeting, which was moved to his home track of Murwillumbah while also enjoying a winning double at Doomben on Wednesday.

The leading country trainer heads to Sydney with a pair of strong contenders with Belvedere Boys ready to fire in the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m).

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Belvedere Boys took out the Country Classic at the same track and trip last November and has continued on an upward trajectory since then.

“He is still improving and we haven’t seen the best of him yet,” Dunn said.

“He has the pedigree to do that.

“We have looked after him and brought him through nice and gently.

“Last prep we held him back in trip, looking at races that were probably a bit short for him but he showed later on in his preparation last time around that he is very effective over a distance.

“He is a nice horse with a good future.”

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Belvedere Boys is just about to go into his six-year-old season but is only lightly-raced with six wins and five placings in 16 starts.

The son of Maurice kicked off his preparation in Listed grade over an unsuitable trip, finishing ninth in the Spear Chef Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.

“We went to 1500m first-up and thought he would be competitive and he was just a bit run off his feet early in the race,” Dunn said.

“Trying to hold a spot went against him late so I think the 2000m second-up should be perfect for him.

“I had him in the Ipswich Cup but it was 2150m and I thought that might have been a shade far for him second-up.

“This race is strong but I think he has proven he is up to this level and he gets in better at the weights than I would have would have anticipated.”

Belvedere Boys (right) is chasing another win over the Rosehill 2000m. Picture: Getty Images

Dunn has secured the services of Sydney’s star apprentice Braith Nock to pilot Belvedere Boys, which is rated a $6.50 contender against new European arrival Elamaz ($3.90 favourite), consistent gelding Glory Daze ($4) and Lord Mayor’s Cup victor Touristic ($6.50).

Emerging stablemate Think Like Paddy will give Dunn a great chance of claiming another winning double on the card with the lightly-raced three-year-old set to contest the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1500m).

Think Like Paddy was formerly trained by Danny O’Brien but has made an instant impression in his first campaign for Dunn.

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The son of So You Think won his first two starts for the new yard at Ipswich and the Gold Coast before running a competitive fourth in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

Despite the significant drop in grade on Saturday, Think Like Paddy is a $5.50 chance with apprentice Jace McMurray booked to ride the gelding.

“I can’t believe his price,” Dunn said.

“He is dropping from a Group 3 to a Class 3.

“The only risk would be coming back in trip again. When Blake (Shinn) won on him at the Gold Coast he thought a mile would pull him up and then Craig Williams thought he could get a bit further.

“But I think coming back to 1500m in this grade from a good gate, he should put himself into the race.”

Dunn will spend the afternoon in Sydney but will also chase stakes success in Queensland with Cranky Harry ($15) in the Listed $160,000 Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm.

Cranky Harry was fifth last start in the Listed Wayne Wilson Handicap and will be partnered by Jake Bayliss.

Dunn also has Godfather in the Eagle Farm 160 Years Raceday Benchmark 85 Handicap (1200m).

Originally published as Trainer Matt Dunn insists best yet to come for six-year-old Belvedere Boys