By Michael Guerin
John Dunn says there is strength in numbers for the country’s leading stable as they prepare for the $40,000 Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington tonight (7.58pm).
But he is unsure whether that will be enough to help their stable win the automatic qualifier for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup even though they have six reps in the 2600m standing start Group 3.
Team Dunn, which is officially Robert and Jenna but might as well have John’s name on the stationary too, have Double Time, Dalton Shard, Heisenberg, Charlie Brown, Who’s Delight and Mighty Looee in the Vase and John says he is happy with them all.
“I suppose we have an advantage that we can work our good horses up together,” he explains.
“It means they can train together, in different pairs or groups at different times, whereas maybe a smaller stable might not have a second horse that can go with their best one.
“But I am still not sure that will help us win this week because it is a very even field and very big.
“When you look at them, there is not many of the 16 you would be surprised if they won.
“If I had to opt for one of ours I’d go Charlie Brown as the best chance this week because he has been trialing and working well.”
Dunn thinks the size of the field could count against those who settle back, which might include favourite Ohoka Connor, who not only faces a 10m handicap but has been hit and miss from standing starts.
Standing start manners could be crucial as once the big field settles into some sort of order they could easily pace around 3:13 for the 2600m and that would make it awfully hard for horses trying to come three wide, especially so early in their campaigns.
The Dunn team aside you can make convincing cases for Macandrew Aviator, Franco Sinatra, Anything Goes and the Telfer pair of B D Joe (who might need a run after missing a trial) and Ohoka Connor if he behaves.
The Vase is just one of the feature races Team Dunn hold a huge hand in as they also have three of the six starters in the XCM Basil Dean Free-For-All including a potential topliner in Sunnys Sister.
Last season’s NZ Trotting Oaks and Derby winner has the motor to step into our thin open class ranks this campaign but still has a way to go to match the strength and incredible stamina of her champion older brother Sundees Son.
“She will eventually measure up for sure but she is still learning and this 1980m start point hasn’t always been the best for her, just like it wasn’t for her brother,” explains Dunn.
“She can win but it could be a funny little race being so early in the season.
“Mighty Logan is a horse of ours who has really improved while Mr Love [trained by the Hopes] is a good trotter who will have a fitness edge on ours.”
Tonight’s meeting starts with the clash of two smart maidens in Race 1, the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion. Mobile Pace, with both Captain Moonlight and Treasure Cove headed for better things.
The Dunns roll out plenty of talent away from the major races including smart three-year-old trotter Tyron Eros in Race 3, the Show Day Slot Races On Sale Now Handicap Trot. John warns he could need the run as the $2.80 favourite.
“I think one of our best chances for the night could be One Over Da Line (R9, No.8) as he is in the right type of race.”
Phelan to roll out big guns
Scott Phelan is serving up the entree at Alexandra Park tonight but next week’s main course is the one punters will really feast their eyes on.
Phelan and senior training partner Barry Purdon have some smart juveniles returning to racing tonight as well as in-form winter winners Ilsas Son (R4) and Artisan (R6) as big chances in the better class races.
But while that gives them a strong hand tonight they unleash the real stars of their stable and some of the biggest names in New Zealand harness racing next Thursday.
That will be when Merlin, Mach Shard and Sooner The Better start their road to the IRT New Zealand Cup with an outing at the Pukekohe trials where NZ Oaks favourite Duchess Megxit will also be seen in public for the first time.
“The open class horses are all coming up well so it will be good to get them back doing something serious,” says Phelan.
“They have still got a bit of their winter coats so a way to go yet, apart from Merlin who never really gets a winter coat because he is such an athlete.
“He looks great.”
Phelan welcomed the news Mark Purdon will have both Don’t Stop Dreaming and Millwood Nike in work at Matamata which raises the possibility they could also aim to race in some of the Alexandra Park spring races.
“Even if you add only Don’t Stop Dreaming to our three that is some really strong early racing up here as they try to get ready for the Cup.”
The two juveniles who resume in Race 5 (Purdon and Phelan Racing Supporting the NZHAT 2YO Mobile Pace) tonight, I Got Chills and Confederate, both look serious horses in the making but Phelan says the draw makes him lean toward I Got Chills.
“That is only because of the draw. They are very even and I am confident Confederate will keep improving.”
That is a good field with Bar Louie highly talented while the whole nine starters look likely to win races before the end of the year.
The stable’s other juvenile rep tonight is The Night Agent (R8, No.2) in the Lincoln Farms Supporting the NZHAT Mobile Pace. He is a Captain Crunch colt out of superstar mare The Orange Agent.
“He is quick but still learning so I might depend how they race is run and where he ends up,” says Phelan.
Of the more tried and true team members in tonight Ilsa’s Son has no reason he can’t continue the dream start to the career of young driver Harrison Orange, who has partnered him to win his last two starts from only a handful of career drives.
“He is an honest horse with good manners and he could easily win two or three more races so he has to be a chance.”
Artisan continues her farewell tour before being retired to stud reverting to a standing start in Race 6 (Classique Landscapers Handicap Pace), which takes away her gate speed weapon.
She faces a 10m handicap in the small field but is racing so well she can still be a factor providing she can step quickly, although she is up against a top class mare in Lady Of The Light, who has been well schooled from standing starts at recent trials.
