RJ gets his 2000

It’s been a month of milestones for Diamond Racing, and senior training partner Robert Dunn reached one of his own today at the Cheviot harness racing meeting at Addington.

In a remarkable career that spans forty six years the Auckland based trainer scored his 2000^th winner when the aptly named Got The Chocolates (Art Major) brought the achievement home in Race Three, winning easily by two and a quarter lengths.

It was also fitting that the two year old is owned by Ross and Angela Gordon who’ve had many horses with the Dunn stable over the years.

“Ross and Angela have been with me for twenty four years and we’ve had some really nice horses but we’re still chasing our first Group One so hopefully this year might be the year,” Dunn said.

He confirmed Got The Chocolates will head south for the $110,000 G1 Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic at Ascot Park in two weeks time.

“Johnny thinks he’s better with a sit too because he’s got so much quick speed. They were going  slow today so he changed his tactic. He’s such a lovely natural and gaited horse that he’s got all the attributes to be a lovely horse.”

Robert purchased the horse as a yearling at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Sales for $90,000 and as he always does, Ross changed the colt’s name from Treadstone to Got The Chocolates. The  pedigree includes Auckland Cup winner Kate’s First and New Zealand Cup winner Christian Cullen.

Robert has trained 1692 on his own account, 5 with Paul Black and 303 with daughter- in-law Jenna.

He joins Barry Purdon (2,685), Mark Purdon (2,589) and Roy Purdon (2,237) in the 2000 + winners club.

“I’ve been lucky to have had fantastic staff working for me from the get go. You wouldn’t get very far without good staff that’s for sure.”

Robert’s first winner was Blue Schnell (Schnell Hanover) at Marlborough in February 1978 while his first Group One success was with National Glory in November 1988 in the NZ Sires’ Stakes Final. On his own accounts he’s won twenty three Group One races and a further ten with Jenna.

The most successful drivers for Robert have been John (1,000), himself (244), Tim Williams (108), Dexter Dunn (83) and Ricky May (59) while Addington (742) and Alexandra Park (216) have been his favourite hunting grounds. On the provincial circuit Richmond Park in Nelson (121) has also provided plenty of winners. He’s trained five winners in one day at Nelson twice in 1989 and 2014.

Sundees Son (Majestic Son) and Master Musician (New York Motoring) have been his biggest individual winners by race wins with 34, Mainland Banner (17), Henry Hubert (15) and Rider On The Storm (13).

On the stakes front Master Musician ($1,926,810) and Sundees Son ($1,401,248) have led the charge.

“It’s been one of those great rides over the years and I’ve been very fortunate.”

Later in the card Robert’s son John Dunn scored his 1,000^th winner for his father when Sunnys Sister (Majestic Son) won. It surely must be a record for the number of wins recorded by a son for his father.

Owned by Colin and Nancy Hair, the win was Sunnys Sister’s eighth.

“It was great that Johnny brought up the win on her. Colin and Nancy are other great owners.”

On Friday Robert and Jenna notched up their 300^th training win as a partnership.

“She’s (Jenna) such a great horsewoman. She stays at home on race night and gives the horses that need it a saline drip and gets them all freshened up and ready for their next assignment. It’s a part of the game that happens that people don’t realise.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink