Dunn excited by Brutal reality after lean year
JOCKEY Dwayne Dunn knows success is all about momentum and confidence and he has both in spades.
It wasn’t the case a few months ago but, as Dunn said, there’s nothing like a fast horse to turn things around.
In his case it’s been three fast horses and he’ll be on two of them tomorrow at Moonee Valley – $1.90 favourite Brutal in the McKenzie Stakes (1200m) and $1.55 favourite Multaja in the three-year-old fillies race over 1200m.
Dunn said his resurgence began when he partnered impressive 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 Moonee 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 as fit as ever,” he said.
Dunn said “the clock doesn’t lie” and Brutal and Multaja ran fast times at their last-start wins and the two three-year-olds had enormous potential.
“Multaja had the right run in transit 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 and you can take momentum into the spring,’’ he said.
“People are looking for riders who are riding winners.”
Dunn said he had decided to work harder this season.
Last year he also had some neck trouble and he was dabbling in mortgage broking but he’s put that on the backburner to focus on riding.
Although things didn’t fall his way last spring, he’s hoping his start to the new season will 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.