BATHURST trainer Paul Theobald was a happy man when he trained four winners at the recent Gosford Picnics, but that feeling of elation was matched or even bettered when his battle hardened veteran galloper Dunderry scored a thrilling win at Tyers Park on Saturday.
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Back in January 2011, the Bathurst trained Dunderry made an inauspicious debut when last in a two-year-old race at Warwick Farm. His next eight starts he ran a frustrating six seconds and two thirds for Theobald and the fellow owners.
However, after a second placing to Be My Honey at Bedgerabong Picnics, Dunderry cracked it for his first win when ridden by Clare Pettigrew and beating Aphroditis and Lady Frere in a 1,000 metres Maiden Handicap on a very heavy track at Orange.
Now a 10-year-old, Dunderry has established a fine record of 13 wins and 29 placings from 107 starts. He displayed admirable fighting qualities when repelling every challenge on Saturday in the Bathurst Toyota Benchmark 58 Handicap (1,200m).
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Dubbo jockey Ken Dunbar has recorded the majority of wins on Dunderry, but was unavailable due to a suspension and Adrian Robinson took the reins.
Dunderry led for home and was then chased down the straight by Winterconi. After they hit the line there was a lengthy delay while the judge studied the photo finish.
The official margin was a nose in favour of Dunderry ($9) over Winterconi (Mathew Cahill, $3.60) with a half length to third placed Marbrouk (Daniel Pitomac, $15).
Although placed numerous times, Dunderry had not won for over 30 starts, the most recent wins being the ANZAC Day Sprint in 2016 at Bathurst when beating Infinite Bliss and All Sixes plus the Bill Aspros Sprint (1,200m) at Bathurst in February 2016 when beating Bells Of War and Dream Empress. On both occasions with Ken Dunbar the jockey.
