Trainer Matthew Dunn has plenty to consider after his promising Belvedere Boys passes staying test in style at Rosehill

Trainer Matthew Dunn admitted he hadn’t thought beyond the Country Classic with Belvedere Boys but he now has several options after the gelding’s impressive win at Rosehill.

Nash Rawiller rides Belvedere Boys to victory in the TAB Country Classic at Rosehill Gardens on November 30, 2024. Picture: Bradley Photos

Promising Belvedere Boys has given trainer Matthew Dunn plenty to ponder for all the right reasons after a powerful win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Belvedere Boys proved he was a class above his rivals scoring with consummate ease in the $160,000 Country Classic (2000m).

Dunn, the leading Murwillumbah-based trainer, was at Doomben on Saturday but post-race he admitted to being unsure of immediate race plans for Belvedere Boys.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“I haven’t thought beyond the Country Classic, this was a target race,” Dunn said.

“We wanted to test him at 2000m, I was pretty sure he would get the trip, and that does open up a few options for us now.

“Whether we send him to Queensland or keep him in Sydney, I’m not sure. We do know he’s a promising horse and was too good for that field.”

Belvedere Boys ($2.50 favourite) didn’t have the easiest of runs but he was simply superior to his rivals, reeling in Marsabit ($26) inside the final 200m and racing clear to win by a widening one-and-three-quarter lengths with Heir Jordan ($51) more than four lengths away third.

Champion jockey Nash Rawiller is the number one ticketholder of Belvedere Boys’ growing fan club.

Rawiller said Belvedere Boys had been travelling well until he hit a “slippery” patch near the 1000m where he lost momentarily lost his rhythm.

Belvedere Boys races away with the TAB Country Classic! 👨‍🌾@mattydunnracing | @nashhot | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/jfCdQq3JTU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

• McEvoy gem delivers sweet success on Sargent stayer

“He dipped and dived I thought we’d lost all chance,” Rawiller said.

“A lot of horses would put up the white flag when that happens because they lose all confidence.

“But to his credit, he picked himself up and balanced up and by the 700m he was feeling like the winner again.”

Rawiller said Belvedere Boys is a “push button racehorse that does his best for you.”

“Belvedere Boys has a good turn of foot and I think he’s better than that level,” he said.

Dunn wasn’t surprised to learn of Rawiller’s praise for Belvedere Boys.

“Nash rode the horse earlier this year and was very impressed by him,” the trainer said.

A five-year-old gelding by Arrowfield Stud’s leading sire Maurice, Belvedere Boys was passed in at the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale when bidding failed to reach his $100,000 reserve.

But Belvedere Boys’ Country Classic win improved his record to five wins (and four placings) from 12 starts and took his career earnings to nearly $280,000 with the promise of plenty more to come.

Originally published as Trainer Matthew Dunn has plenty to consider after his promising Belvedere Boys passes staying test in style at Rosehill