Spring in step of Dunn
Youngsters spark hopes for veteran
JOCKEY Dwayne Dunn knows success is all about momentum and confidence, and he has both in spades.
It was not the case a few months ago but, as Dunn said, there was nothing like a fast horse to turn things around.
In his case, it has been three fast horses and he will be on two tomorrow at Moonee Valley — $1.90 favourite Brutal in the 1200m McKenzie Stakes and $1.55 favourite Multaja in the three-year-old fillies’ race over 1200m.
Dunn said his resurgence started when he partnered colt Brutal to a five-length debut win at Caulfield on July 14.
“Racing can swing on the back of one fast horse and that happened to me when I rode Brutal,’’ he said.
“It makes a difference getting on fast horse. You feel good and your confidence rises as a result. You can’t underestimate how important confidence is.”
Dunn found another fast one in Multaja, who made it two starts for two wins on August 4 at the Valley.
Dunn, 45, continued his winning streak last Saturday when he rode Showtime in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.
“I’m feeling confident and I’m feeling as fit as ever,” he said.
He said with both threeyear-olds “the clock doesn’t lie” as they ran fast times at their last-start wins and had enormous potential.
“Multaja had the right run but she was still impressive, while Brutal was still green and over-raced,” he said.
Dunn said he was well positioned to enjoy a good spring and was keen to emphasise that tomorrow.
“Having success in early spring can open up a few doors,’’ he said. “People are looking for riders who are riding winners.”
Last year he suffered some neck trouble, and while he dabbled in mortgage broking, he had put that pursuit on the backburner to concentrate on riding.
Dunn said last spring things did not fall his way, but he was hoping his great start to the season would propel him to success.
“I just wasn’t as competitive in the big races as I’d like to be, but Chautauqua was scratched at the barriers in the Manikato Stakes and Royal Symphony should have won the Caulfield Guineas,” he said.