Dunns looking to continue Coast success

By Mike Love 

After a successful day at Westport on Friday John Dunn is eyeing up more of the same at Reefton today.

He reined home four winners, including three for the family training combo of Robert and Jenna Dunn (Amici, Bruntwood Brigade and One Over Da Line), while the other was Country Gold for trainer Henderson Hunter.

“It was a very good day!” said Dunn. 

Other highlights from the first day included a trainer/driver double for John Morrison (Dancing N Heaven and Destiny’s Dream), while Paul Nairn produced a quinella in the maiden trot with first starters Kawatiri Trev and Robbie K. Out of those four runners only Kawatiri Trev will not be backing up today.

The whole Dunn squad will be back and looks ready to be extremely competitive once again.  

“They seem to have bounced through their runs really well," says Dunn. 

In Race 1, the Lantern Court Motel Handicap Trot over 2500m (12.20pm), Wot Up Tyron ($5.50FF) will need to “do things right” to feature - and a gear change just may assist the three-year-old What The Hill gelding. 

“We’ve added the half-hopples after he bowled around in them this morning well. This time in he’s better but doing a few things wrong, but he’ll get there.”

Normie Stead ($3.40FF) lines up in Race 6, the Kawatiri Palms Beach Park (Team Teal) Mobile Pace over 2450m (2.28pm) with Riley Harrison on board. After a close second to Prosperity on the first day, Dunn believes Normie Stead will be in the hunt once again. 

“He’ll be competitive. The one drawn beside us, Captain Cool, is a nice horse in the making and will be hard to beat, but with the draw he should be a great chance.”

The feature pace comes in Race 8, the $20,000 Dawsons Hotel Inangahua/Grey Valley Cup (Handicap Pace) 2500m (3.38pm).

Bruntwood Brigade ($3.60FF) will go back 10 metres after his win in Friday’s feature.

“He’s just thriving on the grass. I had to drive him a bit hard early on Friday and he still managed to win, it was a really good run.”

Race 9, the MS Moore Contracting Trevor Craddock Memorial Series Handicap Trot over 2500m (4.13pm) One Over Da Line ($2.25FF) also drops back 10 metres but Dunn is not too concerned.

“He did it nice, after sitting parked the whole trip. He should be hard to beat again.”

Amici ($16.00FF) goes around in the final event, Race 11 the Endura Snowy River Gold Mobile Pace over 2450m (5.18pm). Amici was a first day winner, but has an awkward draw of one the second line and meets a richer field. 

“Comes up with a sticky draw and in a stronger field, so we will need a bit of luck this time.”

Of Dunn’s other drives Ultimatum ($2.30FF) for trainer Matt Purvis is who he suggests as his better chance in Race 2, the Alison Smith Memorial Pace over 2000m (12.45pm).

“Hopefully it’ll be his day. He just keeps finding one better but I was happy with him on Friday and he should be close if not winning.” 

Dunn’s other drives are :

Race 5 (2.02pm), Major Miss ($4.60FF) for trainer Kevin Townley
Race 10 (4.48pm), Country Gold ($12.00FF) for trainer Henderson Hunter

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