Harness racing trainer Robert Dunn and son John Dunn have well and truly dominated the first day of the Nelson Harness Racing Clubs summer meeting at Nelson today.
Four wins early in the meeting with a couple of seconds later in the day showed the Dunn barn were on track to have another big day on Sunday.
Kotare Yael set the ball rolling in race 2 with a tough win in which John drove him aggressively right from the start and got him home for a narrow but overdue victory.
The same went for race three where high class three year old Bite The Bullet was way too strong even after starting from barrier nine at the gate, clearing out in the straight.
John then rattled off his third winner in three races when Kotare Kasai upset them with an inch perfect drive which saw the mare get home by just a nose.
Even after John and Robert had won three in a row, they were let go again a couple of races later when Daleness Xchange bolted in at eleven to one in race six.
A second with Joey Maguire with Ross Haughton in the bike was followed by a smart second by Grauate Under Fire with John on board in the Nelson Cup Prelude behind the very talented Rocker Band who is not backing up on Sunday which brings Graduate Under Fire right into line for the Nelson Cup.
John Dunn was happy with todays run.
"He's has stuck on really well today and I was very happy with the run.
"If he steps away on Sunday and gets a run like he did today, I think he is a big winning chance in the Cup."
"He always gives his best as he is so honest which always makes him a chance," John said.
The Greg and Nina Hope training partnership also won a couple on the day along with three placings which suggests that the Dunn partnership won't have it all its own way on Sunday.
Harnesslink Media