The John Dunn summer roadshow rolled into Blenheim on Friday and continued on its merry run of success.
Fresh off the back of a win fest at Nelson last weekend, Dunn was back into yet on the first day of the Marlborough Harness Racing Club’s two day meeting with four winners, including a consecutive treble in the final three races of the day.
The win haul saw the stable of Dunn’s father, Robert, draw level with Greg and Nina Hope in second placing on the national trainer’s premiership, just one win behind the current leaders, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen who are on 50 wins for the term thus far.
Dunn said that the stable targeted these meetings each year.
“We like to aim a big team for these meetings and we’ve been lucky to have some good success,” he said.
“You’ve got to have the horses though and we are lucky to have some nice ones up here.”
The four wins yesterday came courtesy of Hayden’s Meddle, Dream To Reality, Billy Badger and Gotta Go Ya Hu.
Billy Badger’s victory was impressive as the three-year-old took on the older horses again and proved too good.
“He’s on top of his game at the moment, we had to do a bit of work out there and he kept giving.”
He won’t race again at Sunday’s meeting, but the remainder of the team including a couple of sets of fresh legs will also be in action again.
Alta Orlando joins the fray for the Marlborough Cup after his impressive Nelson win last weekend while Cmeerock who was desperately unlucky last Sunday comes into the meeting and will contest the final race of the day.
With the Dunn stable winning four of the eight races, there wasn’t much left for anyone else but the performance of local trotter, Destiny Jones was notable.
The Dean Hunter trained mare started off a 40 metre handicap but was simply too good for her opposition, clearing out inside the final 200 metres to win comfortably.
“She’s going super at the moment and was an absolute pleasure to drive,” Blair Orange said.
“She made it look pretty easy really.”
The win continued a great summer for Hunter who has been winning races regularly with his small but select team of trotters.
Racing returns to the Waterlea Raceway on Sunday, but with the threat of a deluge of overnight rain which may result in the formbooks being thrown out the window.
Alta Orlando will be the talk horse of the day in the Cup – but there are plenty of other chances throughout the day.
Terry and Glenys Chmiel will be looking to go one better than their effort on Friday where their four runners all finished second.
Super Selector – By Matt Markham
Race 1: Tehoro Dazzle, Geena’s Girl, I W McNik, Reign On Me
Race 2: Born Again Delight, Glenferrie Duster, Goldiloch, Smooth N Easy
Race 3: Runaway Three, Titanium, Forgot To Remember, Out Of Aces
Race 4: Scotlyn Jack, Hayden’s Meddle, Dream To Reality, Sauchiehall
Race 5: Destiny Jones, Arditi, Little Mo, Clifden Clowers
Race 6: Gotta Go Ya Hu, Franco Hampton, She’s A Flyin, Johnny White
Race 7: Alta Orlando, Hopeful Harriet, C A Penny, Here We Go Again
Race 8: Smithy, Cmeerock, Franco Tai, Eh Ef El
Best Bet: Runaway Three (Race 3)
Value: Scotlyn Jack (Race 4)