Culinary Delight surprises at Auckland

The following is a review of the Robert Dunn Racing Stables runners over the three meetings last weekend.

Auckland – Friday night

While there was only a small team engaged at Auckland Friday, they still produced a winner from the three starters, in Culinary Delight.

In what appeared to be a handy line-up, the daughter of Lis Mara and Culinary Affair dominated from the start for driver Tony Herlihy.

After having them all of the bit at the 400m the 5yr old ran out a convincing winner by 4 lengths in 2.43 for the 2200m, coming home in 800m 56.8  and 400m 28.5 for owners the Forrests.

This was her third win from 31 starts and she has now banked $28,390 in stakes.

Based on Friday's performance this won't be the last winning run.

Later in the night it was the turn of the trotters, with Whitney and All Royal Gal lining up.

Unfortunately All Royal Gal did as she did last week, blowing it at the start.

Whitney however stepped like a toff for driver Jack MacKinnon and enjoyed a perfect run three back before being asked for her best effort from the 400m.

After looming up on the turn and then hitting the lead at the 200m she was run down over the last 100m by a very impressive One Ova Da Moon in what turned out to be a sprint home.

Whitney is racing in top form and is another stable runner set to deliver at short notice.

Addington – Friday night

The first runner for the night was Art Critic for Matt in the boys' race.

Having drawn poorly, she was obliged to race back in the field.

While she made some real ground with purpose in the straight, she was never going to figure on the back of a run home in 800m 54.3 and 400m 26.2.

She will certainly keep for another week and looks in for a good campaign.

Cullect A Guinness always looked the best chance for the night and did his best to justify the strong support.

From his inside barrier he had the pace to hold the lead, but did have to work hard over the first 200m.

Once in front he was able to dictate the pace, running some strong sectionals to have most of the opposition battling turning for home.

He appeared to have the race in the bag at the 150m, but succumbed over the past 50m to the finish of 165-1 outsider Northview Gambler and Stevie Golding. He is certainly "Mr Consistency" this guy and surely his turn will come.

Uncas was at long odds in the feature trot and after adding to his handicap with an early break was obliged to do a lot of chasing to catch the pack.

He eventually worked home well to finish about nine lengths off winner Quite A Moment.

Sires Stakes hopeful Alta Las Vegas stepped out for the first time this season in what was a very handy field of 3yr olds.

From his bad draw he raced back in the field early before working to the breeze from the 1300m outside He Can Fly.

After eyeballing that runner from the 400m he was able to take a shotlived lead at the 200m.

However, favourite Wannabet had enjoyed a perfect trailling run throughout and once able to take the passing lane went on to a convincing victory.

Alta Las Vegas battled hard for his second placing and will be a lot better for the run going into next week.

The final hope of a win on the night rested with Littke Rascal and Living Legend in the last.

Living Legend had a dig for the lead at the 1300m and nearly crossed. However, pacemaker Webb  Ellis was able to kick back underneath leaving Living Legend breezing and then one-one.

Little Rascal however, was well back from his awkward second line draw. At the 400m Living Legend began to lose contact while Little Rascal was gambling on inside runs.

After finally finding some room at the 150m he stormed home for the most unlucky of 4th placings beaten just over one length.

He was certainly the most unlucky of all stable runners on the night. 

Methven – Sunday Afternoon

There were just the two stable runners that headed to Methven today and both delivered very creditable placings. 

Bourbon And Dry contested the maiden trot, a trot that is picked to deliver many maiden winners over the next few weeks.

Today Bourbon And Dry never put a foot wrong, stepping well and running to the lead, before handing up and trailling eventual winner Majestic Ali.

He travelled well throughout and coming to the passing lane momentarily looked a real winning hope.

However, he just battled over the last 100m, sticking on strongly for a very good third placing.

No Doctor Needed was backed in strongly on the day and went out as third favourite in the day's feature the Methven Cup.

He began well from his 10m handicap and drove to the lead after 500m before trailling Mach Gladiator which would lead throughout.  Coming to the turn No Doctor Needed looked to be travelling well behind a hard driven Mach Gladiator.

However, once in the straight it was the sweeper out wide in favouirte Messini that came with an undeniable claim to run out a convincing winner by a half length from strong finisher Quick As A Trick that outfinished No Doctor Needed for second.

John and Robert will no doubt look at their plans for the next couple of weeks, but it is most likely that we will see No Doctor Needed at Ashburton for the Flying Stakes in 8 days time.

The other performnace of note from a stable point of view was Music in the boys' race.

Given a chance at a "change of scenery" by trainer Bruce Negus, Music had been with the Woodend stable for just two weeks.

While the formline made grim reading and he appeared unwanted on the tote, going out at 40-1 odds, driver Matt Purvis said he was, "very bullish" on the Lis Mara 5yr old's chances today.

After getting a nice trip throughout he loomed up to challenge on the turn before cruising to the lead at the 200m.

From there it was a all plain sailing as Purvis and Music bolted in by nearly three lengths. "Nice horse and jogged it," was the after race summation.

Today's win was Music's 4th from 41 starts, while for driver Matt, it was his second win for the season from just 24 drives. 

Courtesy of Robert Dunn Racing Stables    –    Check site here