Matt Dunn has done a great job since leaving his job as Gerald Ryan’s head trainer at his Murwillumbah base, and is now on his own. He still trains out of his picturesque complex at the Murwillumbah race course and has a very handy team of horses. He finished last season with one of the best strike rates of any trainer in Brisbane and is continuing on where he left off.
Leading into this weekend I chased Matt up to give us a little guide as to how he expects the team to perform. I started by asking about last start winner Chew The Fat, and how he came through the win? “He’s good, I’m just not sure if we will run him yet. It does look as though the race will suit and his win was good the other day. The only question is how he will back up really?” Dunn said.
I didn’t ask Matt, but I am sure Chew The Fat was the sale topper at the Qtis600 when he was a yearling, and is a dynamic syndications horse. He is a nice type and we will probably see his best next preparation.
Mington is in a very competitive race, but it ran a super race when wide last start and Matt has changed a few things with the horse that have got it back to it’s juvenile form. “The trip to Sydney and the heat was probably why (he didn’t perform last prep), and he just didn’t train on after that. I train him a bit different now, I work him short, sharp and often to keep him fit but also fresh enough to not run tired. He will run really well if the rain stays away.” Matt explained.
The horse that many members will know I have a soft spot for is Seventh Heart, and again it does look to be a suitable race in my eyes, and I’m happy to say his trainer seems to think the same as he told me. ”He hasn’t had much luck and was probably just a couple of spots further back then we needed last start. The step to 1350m should be ideal, they run the tempo like a 1200m race when they go to Doomben which will help and he is going good.”
All three look to have strong winning chances and with Colless jumping back aboard Seventh Heart I suspect he will run an improved race. It was great to catch up with Matt as he has great racing knowledge and speaks openly about his horses. Next time I’m out at his stables I will put up some pictures of trackwork and of his great setup in Murwillumbah.
For anyone looking to races horses in a nice relaxed country setting you can’t go wrong making the trip down there with a coffee for trackwork.. Magic!
Good luck to Matt and his team on Saturday!
**”The Punt” section will be up tomorrow and I will try to get over a couple of the interstate Group races if time allows!
