Birthday boy goes one-two

Livewire Victorian harness racing personality Aaron Dunn got an early birthday present with a quinella in the two-year-old event conducted at Swan Hill last Tuesday night.

Dunn had three unraced runners in the APG-The Industry’s Not For Profit Sales Co 2YO Pace. He handled Little Louie (Sweet Lou-Little Lyn (Jeremes Jet) and won easily from stablemate You Beauty, driven by Kerryn Manning. His other horse Neatntidy began badly and was never in contention.

“I was really pleased with the result, because going back a while I decided to concentrate on the youngsters – I just love mucking around with them,” Dunn, of Horsham, said.

“The three of them have been going along nicely at home and they have only had one prep since being broken in. I probably jogged them up for 12 weeks and then they’ve been fast-working for five or six weeks,” he said.

“It’s been a rather long campaign, but we’ve just brought them up slowly. They’ve been doing their fastwork in town at the Horsham track.”

Neatntidy is now being turned out for a break, but Dunn plans to push on with Little Louie, after his 18-metre win, and runner up You Beauty, who are from half-sisters, both being out of Rappa Scooter (Stoneridge Scooter) (13 wins).

Ironically, Dunn bred Little Louie after being successful in a stallion tender run by the Swan Hill club.

“The stallion, Sweet Lou seemed to match up nicely with his dam Little Lyn (Jeremes Jet). We bred Little Lyn and won 12 races with her and she had a beautiful nature – he’s a lovely little customer too.”

Dunn, who has worked teams of up to 20 previously, said the stable was working about eight horses, which was “a bit light on compared to usual numbers”.

“There are six two-year-olds, but there’s no doubt that Little Louie is the pick of the bunch,” Dunn said.

“There are also six yearlings getting broken in. There’s a filly by Downbytheseaside (a half-sister to ‘Louie’) that looks a nice type,” he said.

“I’ve got Stacey Barker (a daughter of renowned horseman Rod) helping me out and we’re both enjoying getting them up and going. Stacey is great as she’s unflustered—much like Rod!”

Dunn said the Swan Hill meeting was his first trip to the races in two months as a trainer.

“I copped a few suspensions when I was campaigning in Sydney with Bondi Lockdown and a few others so I’ve been at home doing the horses and adding some improvements,” he said.

“We’re rebuilding six stables and when we’re finished there will also be 13 new shelters. I also bought a horse walker which I’ve always wanted, so that’s been going in as well.”

Dunn said there were only a few older horses now in his team – but, importantly, stable star Bondi Lockdown had just resumed jogging.

“He had seven weeks off and put some weight on. When he won the big VicBred race he was 457 kilograms—he’s now at 491. The oldest horse on the place is Shady Azz and he wouldn’t be here, but he’s Bondi Lockdowns best mate,” he said.

“It’s disappointing that we couldn’t do a Queensland campaign with Bondi Lockdown. I would have loved to be up there again. So there’s no real aim with him at this stage.”

Bondi Lockdown (Somebeachsomewhere – Without Guile (Art Major) is undoubtedly one of our stars of the future. His record stands at 13 wins, 9 placings, from 29 starts for $350,00 in stakes – not bad for a $20,000 investment at the yearling sales!

Dunn won 50 races last year and he’s right on target to crunch that as he now has 47 winners to date with over seven months of the season still remaining.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink