DRAW UNDERLINES DUNN PLAN
TEAM Dunn thought its Caulfield Guineas plan was going perfectly when Amanda, wife of star jockey Dwayne, yesterday turned over a small trophy replica to reveal barrier six for favourite Royal Symphony.
Dwayne is riding the colt for part- owner Amanda, who bred the three- year- old and is having her first Group 1 runner. They wanted barrier four or six in Saturday’s $ 2 million Guineas, and thought they were on track.
But the smiles disappeared when – after deliberation with officials, including chief steward Terry Bailey – the six became a nine.
There was no line underneath the number, as there was under the six which was drawn later by connections of Gold Standard.
Amanda was still stewing 40 minutes later as she exited the committee room at Caulfield, and the market reacted with Royal Symphony easing out to $ 4 with UBET.
But Dwayne remained confident about a horse that won his first four starts, by a combined 11 ½ lengths, before finishing fourth in the 1400m Guineas Prelude on October 1.
“She ( Amanda) wanted to get barrier four or barrier six, and when she pulled that, she thought she had pulled a plum,” he said. “But barriers one and two look like they will push up and do the leading, then we might be able to get across a couple. Looks like not a bad barrier for us.”
More is on offer than the $ 1.2 million first prize.
The Guineas is a stallionmaking race. Dunn has won it twice – last year on Divine Prophet and in 2012 on All Too Hard, who stands for $ 44,000 at stud – and knows what’s at stake.
“I think it was more a little bit of a plus that he got beaten,” Dunn said. “We can treat him like a horse now. He can stop being a rock star and having photos taken and cameras in his face.”