It was a mixed day of fortunes for in the red hot Matt Dunn stable at the GCTC on Tuesday. Dunn had come off three winners at the Murwillumbah meeting on Sunday and has again struck up a lethal combination with jockey Glen Colless who rode four that day.
EPIC TERRA had come out of a hot form race where he was an unlucky 3rd, but as expected he saluted at the Gold Coast with Jim Byrne pushing on and dictating from the front. He is an above average horse who has improved each prep and can continue to be competitive of a Saturday in town. VOLKHERE and DELGADO PILLI come out of that race and have been very impressive since.
The next to go was DUSTY STAR who was returning from a break and jumped at $11 over the slightly unsuitable 1200m, but a good starting point for this horse. As usual he ran through the line really well in a pleasing effort. He was asked to lump 59kg and to be beaten by PLAYTIME and COMMONDARE over that trip is no mark against his name! He is another horse you can follow over the coming month or so.
By know most would now some mates and I have a few small shares in horses around the place and unfortunately for us CALDETES was the hard luck story. He went over onto his nose a stride after leaving the gates and Glen Colless said after the race he can’t believe he was able to stay on the horse. When the incident first occurred I didn’t think it was that bad, and as we were pretty confident he could win I was disappointed by his effort. With a day to look back on the race, watch the replay an agonising 50 times and taking in Matt (Dunn) and Glen’s opinions you have to think it was a damn good effort to pick himself up and finish within 3L of some pretty smart 3 year olds. He does get fizzed up in the parade ring but it is only his 4th race day experience and I think Matt will wave his magic wand and produce the horse at his best in a couple of weeks’ time to show the ability we believe he has.
All in all a pretty good day for a stable on fire at the moment and they are knocking up counting the winners!
