Dunn’s dashing drive to victory with Dee Roe

He’s won his share of good races, but a daring drive by accomplished harness racing trainer-driver and part-owner Aaron Dunn secured the Western Victorian horseman his first Country Cup at Hamilton today (Jan 12).

Dunn’s fearless drive on improving four-year-old entire Dee Roe (Art Major) was undoubtedly the difference in a narrow victory in the $30,000 Matthews Petroleum Hamilton Pacing Cup.

“I’ve won some Group 1s and some other good races, but I’d rate this as my first Country Cup,” Dunn said.

“I originally came from Chatsworth just out the road there, that’s where I grew up, so it’s like a semi local cup for me, and I’m very happy with that,” he said.

Dee Roe started from barrier seven and Dunn elected to play no part in the many early-race manoeuvres.

From the front row Blake Bolac (James Herbertson) held out the early challenge of the favorite Stormryder (Mark Pitt) after the dispatch.  Blake Bolac then sprinted hard again to fend off an early-race three wide challenge by Exotic Bushranger (Michael Stanley), who was then able to drop onto the leader’s back.

Another three-wide challenge came from Operative Line (Glen Craven) at the 1600 -metre mark, but with Stormryder refusing to yield the death-seat, Operative Line restrained to the rear.

Dunn meanwhile, had drifted back at the start, eventually settling third-last, at one point more than 40-metres from the lead horses and waited until a little over a lap to go to make his move.

“I was probably going to leave it a bit longer to go but when Arggghhh (David Miles) went, I thought I would get a cart on it, maybe thinking the favorite wouldn’t let him get to the position outside the leader,” Dunn said.

“But once Arggghhh got to the death seat I just thought, well I’ll keep pressing on – and I ended up in front!” he said.

Dee Roe surged to the lead at the bell and Dunn let the horse roll, peeling off final quarters of 29.6 and 28.5 for a mile rate of 1:56.4 for the 2660 metre journey.  He scored by 1.5 metres from the fast-finishing Young Bluey (Matthew Craven) and Rocknroll Walla (Jackie Barker).

In an action-packed race, Aaron Dunn made the winning move a lap to go with Dee Roe, claiming victory in the Matthews Petroleum Hamilton Pacing Cup. pic.twitter.com/Rz5Rk0z7VY

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) January 12, 2025

Matthews Petroleum, which has been a major family business in the Hamilton area since 1969, have been great supporters of the club over many years and presented the Pacing Cup to loyal stable supporter Helen Friend, who owns Dee Roe in partnership Dunn.

“It’s been amazing to be part of a horse like this, and I’d just like to acknowledge the job that Aaron has done with him since we bought him from the yearling sale,” Friend said.

“It’s a real team effort at the stables, and the horse is just getting better and better.  Aaron was pretty confident today.  Dee Roe’s a good horse, but Aaron knew there were a lot of pretty good horses out there, so it was a great thrill,” she said.

See the full results and race replay, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink