Dunn barn scores treble at Ashburton

Trainer Robert Dunn enjoyed a big day out at the Ashburton Cup meeting yesterday when notching a winning treble.

Dunn scored victories with Tyron Bettor’s Ella, Kotare Yolande and Spot On.

The trainer’s winning roll started when talented three-yearold filly, Kotare Yolande, scored a maiden victory on debut.

Winning three trials leading in to her first race meant the pacer started with a short $1.70 winning price and a reputation to match.

Kotare Yolande justified both of those with a comfortable victory for driver John Dunn.

‘‘She had big wraps before she came to us, Mark Smolenski had her for three preps,’’ Robert Dunn said. ‘‘Her owner, Tony Abel, told us that he thought a lot of her. Since she had been in the stable she has looked like a really nice horse.’’

‘‘She has got a lot of upside to her, that is for sure.’’

Tyron Bettor’s Ella increased her future value as a broodmare when running to a 1-53.4 mile (1609m) win in mares company.

The six-year-old was aided by a perfectly timed drive from John Dunn. He waited until Tyron Bettor’s Ella was well into the Ashburton straight before peeling her off the back of the leader and runner-up, Tact Maggie, to launch her winning run. The half-neck victory was in contrast to the shocker Tyron Bettor’s Ella ran on Show Day.

‘‘On Show Day she went terrible and started stopping after a lap when she was crook.’’

‘‘So, we took her back to the grass tracks and she loves them and she has just got better and better. She has certainly turned the corner now, it is great for the owners, the Neumanns, because they are such great supporters of the stable.’’

The Dunn combination scored the easiest of their three wins when Spot On ran to a five-length victory. The Art Major pacer produced a gritty effort after being left parked for much of the last lap of his 2400m event.

Dunn runners featured in the Ashburton Cup finish, but were denied a win by the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained Fun at the beach.

The four year-old left his rivals with few excuses when he ran to a gritty victory. Not even sitting parked for the last 2000m of 3200m feature was enough to stop the pacer from scoring.

Dunn trained placegetters runner-up, Alta Maestro, and third Let spend a ni te to get ha who finished well.