Divine day for Dunn duo
Inter-island trainer Robert Dunn notched his 1500th training win in New Zealand in style when Heisenberg headed a stable trifecta just minutes after Classie Brigade won the Kaikoura Cup.
Classie Brigade reminded punters he has the game and manners to be a New Zealand Cup contender with a fast beginning to set himself up for a front-running win with Dunn’s son, John, in the sulky.
The perfect dress rehearsal for New Zealand’s greatest harness race took Dunn to career win 1449, before the trainer made triply sure he would reach 1500 wins.
There was absolutely no doubt as field turned for home in the Yearling Sales Ages Classic that it would not be a Dunn runner hitting the line first.
Eventually it was Heisenberg that sealed the milestone win, holding out his stablemates Stars Tonight and Franco Niven.
‘‘To go one-two-three is quite amazing,’’ Dunn said in his post-race interview.
Dunn’s accomplishment followed a wave of success from his family that has peaked in the past month.
Dunn’s son Dexter confirmed his status as one of hottest reinsman in North America with two wins at the star studded Breeders Crown meeting in Canada recently.
Dexter’s elder brother, John, has kept the family name in lights in New Zealand, where he has won more than 1000 races.
He sealed his father’s milestone win with Heisenberg with the same kind of well-rated front running drive he produced on Classie Brigade.
Dunn poured praise on John, who manages his South Island stable, after his 1500th training win.
‘‘He is a fantastic horseman, he is not underrated, because everyone knows he is very, very talented.’’
‘‘He has got a terrific staff at Woodend Beach and they have done a marvellous job [for the stable].’’
The Robert and John Dunn combination sealed their brilliant day out at the picturesque Kaikoura Cup course by completing a hat-trick of wins in its final three races.
John produced his third consecutive front-running drive to win with Jay Tee Tyron.