by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Co-trainer James Dunn knows one thing about The Falcon in tonight’s feature pace at Addington.
“We will definitely be going forward, Plan A is to lead is but he doesn’t have to lead,” says Dunn, who trains the Bettor’s Delight five-year-old in partnership with his father Geoff Dunn at West Melton, just outside Christchurch.
The Falcon has won many fans for his willingness to inject speed into races, ensuring they are genuinely run. And that doesn’t look like changing tonight.
“We certainly want a quickly run race.”
In the early markets for Race 6, the Fat Eddie’s Mobile Pace, The Falcon is a clear favourite at $2.30, ahead of Heza Sport ($4.80) and Heisenberg ($5).
“It should be all on, Johnny (Dunn) could have a crack with Heisenberg and Heza Sport could be going forward too.”
The winner of seven of 39 starts, The Falcon seems “overdue” for a win after two seconds and a third of late behind Anything Goes, Bollinger and Sam’s Town.
“We are just hoping we are not going to the bottom of the well too many times,” says Dunn, “he’s had a lot of racing.”
“We just hope he can hold his form.”
“Certainly he seems good in his track work at home.”
A spell seems likely for The Falcon after tonight’s race though a tilt at the Auckland Cup at the end of May hasn’t entirely been ruled out.
“He hasn’t got the X factor of some of the top liners … but he is a grinder.”
“And we think he’ll only get better next year and the year after that.”
The night’s feature trot is the $40,000 Stallions Australasia Sires’ Stakes Aged Classic at 7.27pm where impressive last start winner Paramount Empress is a $2.50 favourite for trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon, ahead of the Paul Nairn-trained Tu Tangata ($3.50).
