Dunne’s biggest success

Luke Dunne chalked up the most significant win of his fledgling harness racing career in the sulky when he steered Bettor Star (Bettor’s Delight) to victory in the Northern Region Championship Final at Mildura. 

Having only his second drive on the Joe Costa trained pacer, Dunne slotted Bettor Star into the running line from its second row draw before making a three wide assault on the leaders with a lap to travel. 

Bettor Star ($41) appeared to be labouring down the back straight however the son of Bettors Delight picked up the bit around the home turn surging to the lead and was too strong for his rivals in the run to the line. 

“That’s the biggest win of my career,” the 17-year-old Dunne said after the race. 

Dunne said he had no hesitation in pulling out three wide at the bell. 

“There was a fair bit going on the first lap with a few of the favorites doing their share of work and I knew they had to get tired at some stage,  so I had no worries in making a run three wide a lap out,” he said. 

Dunne admitted he had cause for concern with 500 metres to travel. 

“He was hanging pretty badly down the back and put in a few rough ones as he hit a flat spot,” he said. 

“But once he got to them around the turn he dug in again and was strong in the straight.” 

The win completed the second treble  of Dunne’s career after the Carisbrook based horseman saluted aboard Loseashoe and Wilshire Boulevard earlier in the night. 

Ironically, Dunne revealed the aptly named Loseashoe in fact lost at shoe at his previous start. 

“He lost a shoe at Charlton last start when he was checked and broke but I was able to settle him at Mildura and he got the job done in front,” he said. 

“He has run a last half in 55 around Mildura which is what the free for all horses do so has the ability.” 

The son of reinswoman Kelly-Ann Dunne is a fourth generation harness racing participant. 

“Both my great grandfather Paddy Dunne and grandfather Frank Dunne were trainers and I have always had an involvement with horses,” he said. 

Dunne said the ramifications of the Victoria’s stringent CoVid protocols fast tracked his career into harness racing. 

“I was 14 when CoVid hit and with all the lockdowns I was never at school much for the next couple of years and being stuck on the farm I got more involved and the harness racing bug just got bigger, so I got my trial licence when I turned 15,” he said.  

Dunne subsequently spent 12 months working at the Bendigo stables of Glenn and Julie Douglas. 

“It has been Glenn who has helped make me the driver I am today,” he said. 

“He is a great horseman and I learned so much from him.” 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink