IT ended up being all too easy for Dunderry, as the Bathurst-trained horse led all the way to take the GMB Rural Services Bm 75 Handicap (1100 metres) yesterday at his home track.
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The five-year-old scored his eighth career win in yesterday’s race, something not at all surprising after he showed promise with a third in Queanbeyan in his last start.
His win ends a hoodoo of sorts for Dunderry at Bathurst. Over his five previous starts here, he had placed second and third twice each.
Dunderry ($5.50) got a superb start, moved forward out of barrier one by jockey Ken Dunbar, to find a lead of several lengths.
That distance was constantly on the increase as Dunbar worked him through the final bend.
He was trailed by four lengths throughout the turn by Cassie’s Favourite ($17), and he held on to take the win by two lengths from the Grafton mare.
One and a half lengths further back, Dubbo trainer Michael Mulholland scored an unexpected third with his Bel Esprit gelding Vigneron ($51) edging out Two Blue ($1.90 favourite) by a half head.
Two Blue struggled for pace in the running, ending a five race streak of top three finishes.
It’s possible she may not have adjusted well to the ground after running her previous five starts on slow and heavy tracks.
Bathurst trainer Paul Theobald said his gelding needed the jump and could use the rail to his advantage if he went first into the final 800m.
He said the inside draw was a dream for Dunderry and wasn’t afraid to see distance put on the rest of the field early on.
“There’s a bit of a wet spot between the five and the six hundred which we knew about. So I told Kenny to not hold him up and get him as close as you can to the rail,” he said.
“He was brushing the rail, he was taking the paint off it. That area between the rail and a little bit out from it was a lot firmer, so he didn’t lose his footing.”
The manoeuvre was designed to keep the pack behind Dunderry at all times, and Theobald knew that the risk would be worthwhile if Dunbar hugged the rail to give guidance.
“He just runs on fear,” he said.
“In the mounting yard here he was sweating up because his fear is starting to take over but he runs on nervous energy.”
Theobald is excited about the future for his sprinter as he moves closer towards potential open racing starts.
“He’s an open class horse now so he’ll go up to about 72 rating. So now I’ve got to look further afield. He’ll get there though, for sure,” he said.
