Team Dunn bring out of the big guns on Friday

Team Dunn are set to be the major players at the first big-time Addington harness racing meeting of the spring as they bring out of the big guns on Friday night (Aug 23).

The premiership leaders of Robert and Jenna Dunn have a remarkable six starters in the $40,000 Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase, the pacing centrepiece of the night while they also have Sunnys Sister (Majestic Son) returning in the Basil Dean Trot.

Add in Aardiebythehill and Mighty Logan in that mobile 2600m and they will have nine starters over the two major races, a feat that would rarely has been matched in New Zealand before with the obvious exception of the All Stars at their peak.

The Maurice Holmes has drawn a 16-horse field with the Telfer pair of B D Joe and Ohoka Connor the only starters off the 10m handicap, although there are three on the unruly.

It is going to provide a nightmare for bookies and plenty of fun for punters with the ratings ranging from R64 for Boudica to B D Joe’s 103 mark with everything from former NZ Cup contenders to Black Mach stepping up from the intermediate grade.

The winner of the Vase is guaranteed a start in the NZ Cup and considering how many non-regular Cup type horses there are in the field it could provide a genuine golden ticket.

B D Joe will have his race day start since the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup last year, when he finished eighth.

One horse facing a different challenge this week is stablemate Ohoka Connor, with senior trainer Steve Telfer wanting to see improved standing start manners from the big boy.

“He has been missing away from the stand and did it again in his trial recently so we want to see that improve,” says Telfer.

“If he doesn’t start getting it right it will be hard to aim him at the NZ Cup and we may even look at Australia and mobile races, like the Victoria Cup (October 12).”

To see Friday’s Addington fields click here 

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand