Deelight for Dunn as Bondi breaks drought

Dreams came true for owner/trainer/driver Aaron Dunn who snapped up a second Group 1 success when Bondi Lockdown rattled home to win tonight’s VHRC Caduceus 3YO Classic.

The reinsman was beaming post-race after his lightly raced three-year-old upstaged short-priced favourite and leader Patsbeachstorm in the $100,000 feature, some 6770 days since Dee Dees Dream delivered Dunn and his father, Barry, a Vicbred Super Series two-year-old title.

“It’s nearly 20 years since I’ve driven a Group 1 winner, at least now it’s not a fluke – I’ve got two,” Dunn told Trots Vision post-race.

Bondi Lockdown brought up the third win of his nine-start career tonight, more than compensating for the $20,000 Dunn paid at the 2019 Australian Pacing Gold sale for the Carl Reinedhr-bred colt, who was by Somebeachsomewhere out of Without Guile, making him a half to Rocknroll Eyes ($162,252).

“From when we broke him in, both me and dad said this is the closest thing we’ve had to Dee Dees Dream,” Dunn said. “He does amazing things.

“Because he’s a Somebeach(somewhere) I’ve tried to keep him quiet, but then he did a few things wrong, galloping off the bit. I’ve changed a bit of gear and now he’s probably overracing. Even a week ago I thought should I just chuck him in the paddock. (Thankfully) it’s paid off.”

All went perfectly tonight for the winner, with Bondi Lockdown starting from gate three and when Helluva galloped from leader’s back Dunn was able to snag from the one-one to the pegs to trail the short-priced favourite.

“Stoked, couldn’t believe my luck,” Dunn said. “Even I went a little bit rough trying to go to the fence.”

From there it was smooth sailing as Patsbeachstorm and his trainer-driver David Moran controlled proceedings, with a 31.5-sec second quarter setting up a sprint to the finish.

While all others lost touch, Bondi Lockdown showed elite pace, running past the leader in a 26.4sec last quarter to score by 2.6 metres, with Patsbeachstorm a clear second and Platinum Stride 13 metres back in third.

“He’ll go to the paddock (now),” Dunn said of the winner, who he said will next be directed towards the Australian Pacing Gold series in May in search of a third Group 1 for Dunn.

HRV – Michael Howard