Dunn prepares for Thunderous Strike
TRAINER Matt Dunn’s assault on The Kosciuszko in Sydney next month has stepped up a notch but first his attention swings to Doomben with Thunderous Strike tomorrow.
The gelding will be having his third race start in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1600m).
Dunn has a big opinion of the gelding who scored at Ipswich over 1350m at his most recent start.
“He had a tricky barrier at Ipswich and Jim (jockey Byrne) had to go forward,” Dunn said.
“I am sure he will be better ridden with cover and over more ground.
“We were going to run him on Wednesday at the Sunshine Coast but that race was scrapped.
“This is our chance to get out to 1600 metres and we will probably ride him back at his first go at the trip.”
Dunn believes Thunderous Strike can be a stakes horse next year but first the gelding might head to Sydney
for a Highway Handicap for country-trained horses.
The Murwillumbah trainer hopes to have Care To Think, Snitz and Lifesaver in the $1.3 million Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
“Care to Think will have a trial on October 2 and go into the big race first-up,” he said.
“He has had a tie-back operation but he went 31.6 seconds for 600 metres in track work on Tuesday morning which is outstanding. He is a genuine Group 1 horse.”
Dunn said he couldn’t be happier with Snitz who won a trial at the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
“His time was very fast and I think it shows this should be his campaign. He has never before trialled that well” Dunn said.
“I would expect him to get a Kosciuszko spot.”
Lifesaver will run in Sydney tomorrow and Dunn hopes he will put himself in The Kosciuszko picture.
The revolutionary race will feature a 12-slot field with members of the public in the running to win a slot.
Tickets in a Kosciuszko competition will go into a draw with 12 people earning the right to negotiate with owners to run a horse in the race.