Come Monday’s Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing meeting at Tyers Park, the Murphy’s Blu Boy x Lyric Of Spring veteran will line up for the 102^nd run of his career.

While it has been more than two years since he last won for Theobald – saluting at his home track on April 25, 2016 – Dunderry has finished in the top four 10 times since then and importantly, his trainer still has faith.

Theobald thinks he can, with the right run, figure in the placings of the Bathurst RSL Club Benchmark 55 Handicap (1,100 metres). It is a trip Dunderry has won at five times.

“He still has what it takes, but he likes his own way. If he can get some cheaper sectionals in, then he’s in with a show,” Theobald said.

“I think he’s up to it, but first start back from a spell the 1,100 may be the telling factor, the distance, that’s the only concern I’ve got. But when I put him out for a spell he was galloping around the paddock, so he was working his self.

“If he’s in the first three, then I’ll be happy. He’ll jump and run and Kenny [Dunbar, jockey] will hunt him along.”

No matter where Dunderry ends up placing, he has still easily repaid Theobald’s decision to add him to his team in April, 2010.

Theobald purchased Dunderry as a yearling from Oberon’s Fred Muldoon for $2,400.

“He couldn’t sell him, no-one wanted him. Freddy came to me and said ‘I’ve got this yearling for sale Paul, come and have a look at him’. When I saw his breeding I thought I’d go have a look at him,” the trainer explained.

“I put $100 on Dragon’s Keep at Goulburn and he was paying $25 and he won, so I went to Freddy with the cash on that Saturday. So I got the horse for nothing really.”

Since then Dunderry has gone on to post 12 wins and finish in the top three 27 times to earn $171,955 in prize money. It is a total the trainer thinks he can keep building on.

“He still works like a young horse, to look at him you wouldn’t think he’s almost a 10-year-old. If you looked at him, you’d think he was a five-year-old, he’s still strong,” Theobald said.

“He just keeps giving and giving and giving, whatever I ask him to do, he does it. He’s like Dragon’s Keep for me, he’s got a home for life.

“He’ll tell us when he’s ready to retire, I don’t want to bust him. I’ll keep racing him as long as he keeps wanting to do it.

“His work he’s been on the bit the whole time, the whole week he’s been on the bit and pulling the arms off the track rider.”

Dunderry will get his chance at 4.55pm on Monday, with the seven-race meeting to start at 1.15pm.