If either of his starters win the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup at Addington tonight champion trainer Robert Dunn will add to an impressive haul in the Group Three feature.
The race, a traditional lead-up race to the New Zealand Cup, has been won by Dunn runners three of the past five years.
Tonight the newly minted stable of Robert and Jenna Dunn will start $2.40 favourite and defending champion Classie Brigade and $4.50 third favourite Henry Hubert, who quinellaed the Maurice Holmes Vase last week. A G’s White Socks will be second favourite for the Greg and Nine Hope stable, at $3.50
Classie Brigade won the New Brighton Cup last year, adding to the victories by the Dunn-trained Letspendthenitetogetha in 2018 and Franco Nelson in 2016.
Letspendthenitetogetha paid $50.10 for driver Jim Curtin while Franco Nelson’s win came against a field that included the Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen trio of Lazarus, Have Faith In Me and Smolda.
The Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup goes at 7.59pm. The winner is guaranteed a start in the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, November 9.