From Auckland to Ashburton for John Dunn

After his Group One heroics at Auckland last night John Dunn heads to Ashburton today with four drives, and two of them will be highly favoured to extend his winning run.

As well as his Group One double with Rowe Cup winner Sundees Son and Northern Trotting Derby success with Five Wise Men Dunn also reined home Sky High Flyer at Alexandra Park. He now has 115 driving wins in what is clearly his most successful season ever in the sulky.

And further spoils are likely at Ashburton.

He will drive stable runners $1.80 favourite American Sniper (R8), exciting trotter Highgrove (R5) and first starter Like A Dream in race 2, and also an outside drive on Precious Sara in race 7.

American Sniper has “shown great promise and was in great form for Henderson Hunter . This time he’s had three trials and got a lot fitter each time…Generally a great standing start horse but it’s a nice even competitive field,” the stable posted on their Facebook page, “he’ll benefit from the run so if we run in the top three we’ll be rapt.”

Highgrove was unbeaten in his opening three starts only to break and finish fourth at Addington last start.

He’s currently paying $2.70 in the Lone Star Sires Stakes Trotters Prelude at 2.03pm.

“Tricky draw today at 9 .. can’t fault the way he’s trotting at home so if we don’t make a mistake today we should be right in the finish.”

Like a Dream completes the Diamond Racing runners(1.25pm).

“Has had a couple of trials and hit the line nice enough and her work at home has been ok….she’ll be hanging out for a cosy trip and if we run top three we’ll be happy.”

She’s currently paying $6.50 and is the fifth favourite behind Emmy, Art Cracker, Nikki Noto and Alene.