Dunn gives the game away early

LAST season’s champion Melbourne apprentice Dylan Dunn has quit riding because of weight problems.

Dunn, 22, said he had been contemplating the move for some time and it was in the best interests of his health.

Dunn had glandular fever this year and hasn’t ridden in a race since January 7.

“Coming back from glandular fever was proving hard and I was going to struggle to get my weight down, so rather than make my health suffer again I thought it was a good time to stop,” he said.

“I wanted to walk away on a high and also I wanted to do the right thing by my health, and also I’m young enough to set myself up for my future.

“Retiring definitely wasn’t on the cards until I got glandular fever.”

Dunn didn’t start riding until he was 19, moving to South Australia after Racing Victoria knocked him back.

“They refused to give me a licence as they thought my health would suffer as I was too tall, but it was just something I was determined to do,” he said.

Dunn said if the weight scale was raised, he would consider a comeback.

The son of top jockey Dwayne said riding against his father was one of his career highlights.

Dunn is 178cm and weighed 67kg before he started riding.

“Dad is 173cm and I’m built a bit differently,’’ he said.

“I’m glad I did it and I’ve got some great memories, but my health would continue to suffer if I continually had to waste to ride.”