Dalton Shard is NZ Cup bound

“You always hope they go well. He trailed up well,” driver John Dunn told Harness Racing Unhinged after Dalton Shard (Always B Miki) upset in tonight’s $40,000 G3 Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington.

The four year old is trained by John’s wife Jenna and his father Robert and being 7/7 in the betting, the win obviously wasn’t expected by many.

“He’s got great manners, he stepped and put himself three fence. Goose (driver Robbie Close) said he still had a bit left and pulled up so that was good.”

As Dunn pointed out, Dalton Shard had good credentials going into tonight’s race having just got beaten by a nose by Charlie Brown in the Country Championship Final in May.

“That hard racing set him for now, really.”

DALTON SHARD REPLAY

Dalton Shard’s winning margin at the end of the 2600 metres was a length and a quarter from stablemate and favourite Charlie Brown so it was the reverse of the Country Championship Final result.

The win gives Dalton Shard automatic entry into November’s G1 IRT New Zealand Cup.

The race has been a pathway for New Zealand Cup winners. Thefixer won the Maurice Holmes before winning the Cup in 2018 and Self Assured won the same double in 2020.

The Dunn name takes up a lot of space on the honours board with Dexter winning the race in 2013 with Four Starzz Flash, Christen Me in 2014 and 2015, Locharburn in 2016 and Titan Banner in 2017.

Robert Dunn trained Classie Brigade to win in 2019 and again in 2021 in partnership with his daughter-in-law Jenna. John Dunn drove on both occasions.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink