Big grin tells the story

The wide smile on the face of Horsham harness racing trainer-driver Aaron Dunn said it all as he returned to the winner’s circle at the weekend with his stable speedster.

“That was very pleasing. It’s always nice to have a win, but I’m so rapt that he raced a lot more tractably,” Dunn said.

Bay colt Bondi Lockdown (Somebeachsomewhere USA-Without Guile (Art Major USA) gave his followers not a worry in the world when he got to the front at the Ballarat-hosted meeting (transferred from Melton) on Saturday night.

“I’m still kicking myself with the two runs we had up in Brisbane last month. While the horse went well, I blame myself a bit because we didn’t get to see just what he could have done,” Dunn lamented.

Bondi Lockdown ran 8th (beaten 15m) in the South East Derby at Albion Park on July 17 and then a week later he was 5th (beaten 10m) in the TAB Qld Derby.

“It was a learning curve as it was the first time I’d raced up there. If we ever go back up there, I’ll be more aggressive. But it was fantastic break for me because you have to re-charge the batteries now and again,” he said.

Dunn worked out from his wide seven alley at Ballarat and pressed on with the job to speed to the top in a cracking lead time.

With a first quarter of 27.8, he backed it off to a 32, before winding it up again with 28.3 and 27.3 for a mile rate of 1.54-9.

“I gave him a few days off when we got home. He then had a week of jogging with two fast runs. He went into the Horsham track one day and had a super quick workout,” Dunn said.

“I knew he was going well, but a real positive was the way he knuckled down when the runner-up came off my back. I wanted the horse to see them coming at him and work to the line, and he did that. I was very happy with him,” Dunn said.

Bondi Lockdown is now being aimed at the $40,000 VHRC Caduceus Victoria Sires Classic (Group 3) at Melton on Saturday week, August 28.

Dunn was required to go into 14 days quarantine on his arrival back into Victoria from his northern campaign.

“It worked out okay as Stevie Blacker and Sam Barker had it all under control at the stables. I used the time to catch up on some overdue bookwork and other jobs around the house,” Dunn said.

“I reckon I cut up enough firewood for the next few winters,” he laughed.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink