<br /><br />Our 3-year-old filly&nbsp;<strong>Celebrity Torque</strong>&nbsp;(Spirit Of Boom) stayed unbeaten in winning for the second time at Lismore&rsquo;s Friday meeting. Sold by Widden Stud for $100,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Celebrity Torque was purchased by Dunn and Neil Jenkinson (FBAA).<br /><br />CELEBRITY TORQUE was good on debut but improved noticeably off her first start to go up in grade and take care of a field with more experience easily at race finish.&nbsp; "Credit to her she's only a 3YO Filly who is quite inexperienced.&nbsp; We'll turn her out now and I think we'll see a much better Filly in the Autumn." Matthew Dunn.

Matthew Dunn Racing

Celebrity Torque stays unbeaten

Matthew Dunn

<p><strong>By Greg Prichard</strong></p>
<p>Highly respected Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn has settled on two contenders for The Kosciuszko and is planning their next runs around making a timely impression on the winning slot-holders.</p>
<p>Four-year-old mare Without Parallel, a last-start winner of a TAB Highway Handicap at Rosehill, and Golden Decade, a last-start winner of an Open-class Handicap at Eagle Farm, have aroused a lot of interest in their chances.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The Kosciuszko will be Without Parallel&rsquo;s main target and I&rsquo;m confident she&rsquo;ll get in,&rdquo; Dunn said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s certainly got the talent to warrant a spot. She&rsquo;s not that different to It&rsquo;s Me before that mare won The Kosciuszko. She&rsquo;s hit the ground running.</p>
<p>&ldquo;And Golden Decade&rsquo;s come back better than ever. He&rsquo;ll be kept to short distances and his races spaced now. He came from the back of the field to win over 1000 metres last start, beating Group Three winners. The Kosciuszko is a perfect race for him.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The $2 million The Kosciuszko will be run over 1200 metres at Randwick on October 18.</p>
<div id="attachment_172422" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img class=" wp-image-172422" src="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2148288.jpg" alt="" height="216" data-attachment-id="172422" data-permalink="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/news/country-news/dunn-settles-on-talented-duo-as-major-kosciuszko-contenders/attachment/2148288-jpg/" data-orig-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2148288.jpg" data-orig-size="816,593" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;2148288.jpg&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\u00a9 Copyright Trackside Photography 07 3216 5686\r\nWeb \/ screen display only.Not to be printed.\r\nCredit to Trackside Photography\r\nNo other use or distribution.All rights reserved.\r\nphotos@trackisdephotography.com&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;2148288.jpg&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="2148288.jpg" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2148288.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2148288.jpg" />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Golden Decade is one of two horses being aimed at The Kosciuszko by Matthew Dunn (Pic: Trackside).</p>
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<p>Punters can go in the draw to have a horse run for them in The Kosciuszko by purchasing sweepstakes tickets at $5 each through the TAB app, tab.com.au, your local pub and club and at race meetings.</p>
<p>Ticket sales close at 11.59pm on Monday, September 8, and the 14 slot-holders will be drawn at 10am on Wednesday, September 10. They can then do a deal on a prizemoney split with the connections of eligible runners trained in the NSW country or ACT.</p>
<p>Without Parallel, which has won all four of her career starts, is a $15 chance to win The Kosciuszko with TAB. Golden Decade is at $26.</p>
<p>Dunn said that among his other horses Boom Torque and Tribeca Star were both spelling and were not being aimed at The Kosciuszko and Fukubana was instead being aimed at the $2 million Five Diamonds over 1800 metres at Rosehill on November 8.</p>
<p>He said Without Parallel would next race in either Sydney or Brisbane on Saturday, August 23, and Golden Decade&rsquo;s next start would be at Doomben on September 13, just three days after the slot draw.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Without Parallel ticked a lot of boxes with her Sydney win,&rdquo; Dunn said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;She stepped up in class, handled a bottomless heavy track - she&rsquo;s won in all conditions now - and the travelling didn&rsquo;t bother her. She was dominant in that race and won by five lengths.</p>
<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a mare with really good speed, a wonderful attitude and a real willingness to win. The focus now is on keeping her name up in lights and getting her into The Kosciuszko and I&rsquo;ve got a couple of good options for her on August 23.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Golden Decade is a quality horse that has been under the radar a bit. He&rsquo;s won eight races from 20 starts and over half-a-million dollars in prizemoney. Most of those wins have been in Brisbane and he&rsquo;s also won over 1400 metres at Randwick.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He was at big odds first-up in that race at Eagle Farm because he&rsquo;d drawn a bad gate and the 1000-metre start there is tough. You just don&rsquo;t win from the outside gate, but he managed to do it and he&rsquo;ll be improved by that run.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Dunn said the ownership groups behind Without Parallel and Golden Decade were the types to get involved in some serious ticket-buying for the slot draw.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always attractive to try and win a slot yourself as an owner,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;That way you get to keep all the prizemoney. But I&rsquo;m sure there&rsquo;s going to be interest in these two horses no matter what.&rdquo;</p>

Dunn Settles On Talented Duo As Major Kosciuszko Contenders

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<div class="author">Tara Madgwick - Sunday August 3</div>
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<p>Sunshine Law was not the only Inglis Digital success story to come out of the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with two contenders for this year&rsquo;s $2million Kosciuszko also giving connections cause to dream big and one of them is an unbeaten mare with a Black Type pedigree.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.breednet.com.au/news/40863/sliding-doors-moment-delivers-feel-good-winner-at-rosehill-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read about Sunshine Law here.</a></p>
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<div class="caption none"><img src="https://breednet.blob.core.windows.net/breednet/news/general/600/breednet-images-without-parallel-rosehill-26997.jpg" alt="Without Parallel wins by daylight at Rosehill - image Bradley Photography" />
<p>Without Parallel wins by daylight at Rosehill - image Bradley Photography</p>
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<p>Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn is lethal when he comes to Sydney for a Highway race and he got the cash on Saturday with unbeaten four year-old mare Without Parallel.</p>
<p>Ridden by Anna Roper, Without Parallel mad it four wins in as many starts when bolting in by&nbsp; five lengths as a short priced favourite.</p>
<p>Dunn immediately announced his intention to target the Kosciuszko.</p>
<p>"We have to start thinking seriously about the race now," Dunn said.</p>
<p>"Horses can go from Highway races to The Kosciuszko but they need to win like she did.</p>
<p>"I did something similar with a horse called Derry Grove. He won two Highways before running in The Kosciuszko.</p>
<p>"I've got a bit more time up my sleeve with this horse, so I'll go home and plot a path.</p>
<p>"She's a good candidate."</p>
<p><img src="https://breednet.blob.core.windows.net/breednet/news/general/600/breednet-images-without-parallel-pedigree-26998.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Without Parallel was snapped up as an unraced two year-old from the 2023 Ingis Digital in November for $7,000 by BRT Bloodstock.</p>
<p>Conceived in New Zealand, she is by well bred Dubawi stallion Time Test (GB), who shuttled for several seasons to New Zealand and is now based in Turkey.</p>
<p>She is the second winner from Special Asset, an unraced daughter of another less than successful shuttle sire in The Factor (USA), but if you go back a little further this is a pedigree steeped in Black Type.</p>
<p>A daughter of stakes-winning juvenile Firenza, who had nine foals to race all winners, Special Asset was obviously a good sort as she made $100,000 as a weanling. She is a half-sister to Group III winner Tuscan Sling and to the dams of Group winner Kiwia and stakes-winner Assertive Approach.</p>
<p>Third dam Zippast was also a stellar producer with 13 foals that all raced and 12 of them won with her descendants including Group winners Lite&rsquo;n in my Veins, Hi World and Written Beauty, who was bought by Kia Ora Stud at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $1.1million.</p>
<p>Without Parallel has won over $142,000 in winning her first four starts, but that may well be the tip of the iceberg if she can emulate the success of some of her family members.</p>
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Inglis Digital Bargain Buys Deliver Kosciuszko Dreamers

<p><strong>By Mark Brassel</strong></p>
<p>Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn believes he has the talented Cranky Harry in perfect shape for his assault on Friday&rsquo;s $150,000 Moonee Beach Hotel Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m).</p>
<p>Cranky Harry has now had four runs from a six-month break and is building nicely for the Cup; a qualifying event for the $3m Big Dance at Royal Randwick in November.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a big horse and generally needs two or three runs to find his groove,&rdquo; Dunn said.</p>
<div id="attachment_171155" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img class="wp-image-171155" src="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/cranky-ws-this-one.jpg" alt="" height="290" data-attachment-id="171155" data-permalink="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/news/country-news/dunn-stables-just-wild-about-harry-coffs-harbour-friday/attachment/1940432-jpg/" data-orig-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/cranky-ws-this-one.jpg" data-orig-size="5273,4465" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 9&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;1940432.jpg&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1516368136&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\u00a9 Copyright Bradley Photographers 02 48681433 \r\nWeb \/ screen display only.Not to be printed.\r\nCredit to Bradley Photographers\r\nNo other use or distribution.All rights reserved.\r\nphotos@bradleyphotos.com.au&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;450&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;1940432.jpg&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="1940432.jpg" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/cranky-ws-this-one.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/cranky-ws-this-one.jpg" />
<p class="wp-caption-text"><em>Cranky Harry (Nash Rawiller) coasts to the line at Royal Randwick. Image by&nbsp;<a href="http://bradleyphotos.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>Bradley Photographers</u></a></em></p>
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<p>At his third run back, Cranky Harry was trapped three-wide and tired when well back in the Tatt&rsquo;s Mile at Eagle Farm.</p>
<p>Last start the gelding fought on strongly, only conceding in the last 50m when runner-up to Tuff Tu Mus, a promising galloper who has recorded six wins and two seconds from just eight outings.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Friday&rsquo;s Cup looks a nice option for him. He&rsquo;s really looking great and will be spot on for Coffs Harbour.&rdquo;</p>
<p>After a couple of stable changes earlier on, the Matt Dunn stable has had Cranky Harry for 13 starts resulting in three wins and three placings.</p>
<p>Last July the five-year-old landed a big win in a Royal Randwick Highway when eased down to score by more than three lengths under Nash Rawiller.</p>
<p>Cranky Harry took out the Murwillumbah Cup two runs later before unplaced in the 2024 Big Dance won by Gringotts.</p>
<p>Dunn will also send former Kiwi, Itza Charmdeel down for the Coffs Cup but the gelding&rsquo;s lack of form has the stable perplexed. The four-year-old has had three runs under the Dunn banner but is yet to register a placing.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been trying different things with the horse like swimming and mixing up his routine to stimulate him,&rdquo; Dunn explained.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He keeps over-racing and has it all upside down &ndash; he always wants to go fast when he should be going slow and then goes slow when we want him to pick up at the finish.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He has talent but is a hard horse to work out and ride.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Itza Charmdeel won a Stakes race in New Zealand (Otaki) as a two-year-old when he flew home on a heavy track but has won just the single race (Te Rapa, NZ) in 10 starts since.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t go on top of the ground so we have targeted rain-affected tracks, and he should get that at Coffs.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Dunn also has Lord of Flames entered for the $40,000 Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1400m) at Coffs. The colt has just had one start when an eye-catching fifth at Grafton (1175m) during the Cup Carnival.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a slow learner and things don&rsquo;t seem to come easy for him, but I have a lot of time for him,&rdquo; Dunn admitted.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He was the strongest finisher at Grafton, and it should turn out a strong form race. I think he may turn out a decent horse and the step up to 1400m will be much more suitable.&rdquo;</p>
<p>For just the third time in its history the Coffs Harbour Cup will be held on a Friday &ndash; and on horses&rsquo; birthday 1st August.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We will present an eight-race TAB program with a prominent on-track screen, conveniently located bars, and mouth watering food options courtesy of the talented &lsquo;Spare Chef&rsquo;,&rdquo; said Tim Saladine, Coffs Harbour Race Club&rsquo;s manager.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The day promises excitement and fun with fashions taking centre stage as attendees dress to impress, competing in the hotly contested Fashions on the Field event with multiple entry categories and substantial prizes.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll have variety of hospitality packages available and there&rsquo;s an option to suit every racegoer&rsquo;s preference.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Patrons can wine and dine in the Coffs Cup Spare Chef Luncheon, be in a Corporate Marquee, soak up the atmosphere in the 4 Pines Racing Retreat, enjoy the laid-back vibe of the Toormina Palms Lawn Party precinct, or mingle in general admission with the lively crowds.</p>
<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s an experience tailored just for everybody and please note tickets are online only.&rdquo;</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting with $450,000 in prizemoney and an additional $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus Series cheque to the winner of the $50,000 Super Maiden (1000m) should the galloper be an Inglis graduate and paid up for the Inglis Race Series.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, next Sunday is&nbsp;<strong>Forbes Cup Day</strong>&nbsp;with the winner of the $50,000 Cup (1600m) also becoming eligible for the Big Dance.</p>
<p>A Forbes Cup Calcutta will be held at Club Forbes on Saturday evening commencing at 6pm.</p>

Dunn Stable's Just Wild About Harry (Coffs Harbour, Fri)

<p><strong>By Ray Hickson</strong></p>
<p>If there&rsquo;s one small query Matthew Dunn has over Think About Paddy&rsquo;s prospects of handing the trainer another TAB Highway win at Rosehill on Saturday it&rsquo;s whether the 1500m is too sharp.</p>
<div id="attachment_64546" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img class=" wp-image-64546" src="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/1179795.jpg" alt="" height="125" data-attachment-id="64546" data-permalink="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/news/latest-racing-news/dunn-setting-snitz-on-another-kosciuszko-trek/attachment/1179795-jpg/" data-orig-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/1179795.jpg" data-orig-size="188,228" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;1179795.jpg&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\u00a9 Copyright Bradley Photographers 02 48681433 \r\nWeb \/ screen display only.Not to be printed.\r\nCredit to Bradley Photographers\r\nNo other use or distribution.All rights reserved.\r\nphotos@bradleyphotos.com.au&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;1179795.jpg&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="1179795.jpg" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/1179795.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/1179795.jpg" />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Trainer Matthew Dunn (Pic: Bradley Photos).</p>
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<p>Against that, Dunn says it&rsquo;s a significant class drop for the gelding who was beaten just under five lengths when running fourth in the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.</p>
<p>That was on the back of wins at his first two runs, over 1680m and 1800m, for the Murwillumbah trainer who is eyeing his 40th success at Highway level.</p>
<p>&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re comparing Group 3 to Class 3 on Saturday there&rsquo;s a pretty big margin,&rsquo;&rsquo; Dunn said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He gets in pretty well at the weights, that was my only worry I had. I thought they might have weighted him up a bit more but he&rsquo;ll only carry 57kg.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The only question is whether he&rsquo;s looking to go a bit further.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Craig Williams, the other day, said maybe he needs to go further but the start before we thought he was best kept to a mile. I&rsquo;ve kept him nice and fresh so I think he&rsquo;ll be sweet.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Think About Paddy, $4 with TAB on Wednesday, was a $180,000 Karaka purchase as a yearling and had six starts for Danny O&rsquo;Brien in Victoria with a third placing over 2200m in March his only podium finish.</p>
<p>He was snapped up online for $27,500 and has won double that for his new owners with his Ipswich and Gold Coast wins in May, and on the back of those Dunn thought the three-year-old wouldn&rsquo;t be out of place in a stakes race.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We thought he might be better (than Highway) so that&rsquo;s why we ran him in the good race, he goes quite well that horse,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It was a big jump in grade for him, possibly if he&rsquo;d got to the better part of the track that day he runs into a place.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Dunn said apprentice Jace McMurray, who reduces the gelding&rsquo;s weight from the 60kg, will have the option to take up a handy enough spot from a favourable barrier.</p>
<p>A conservative ride is on the cards on stablemate Belvedere Boys as he aims to keep his unbeaten Rosehill record intact in the Listed $200,000 Toyota Forklifts WJ McKell Cup (2000m).</p>
<p>The five-year-old was a Highway winner in February last year and returned in November to claim the Country Classic over the Rosehill 2000m before he graduated to open company in the Queensland summer.</p>
<p>He resumed following his second in the Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) with a midfield finish in a 1500m Listed race three weeks ago and that told Dunn he&rsquo;s really looking to stay.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We bounced him quickly in trip because on his first up run he was looking for that, he really struggled to hold a spot where he was,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s looking to run a mile and a half at least this preparation."</p>
<p>Given he is only second-up Dunn said he&rsquo;d prefer Belvedere Boys to come back from the wide gate at the tricky 2000m start.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d probably prefer to ride him a bit soft, depending on tempo of course,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s showed he&rsquo;s got a good turn of foot and can drag himself into the race from the 600m pretty well.</p>
<p><video id="VideoResult" class="VideoPosition" poster="http://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Racing-NSW-video-Play-v2.gif" controls="controls" width="300" height="150" data-setup="{}"></video><br /><em>Think Like Paddy wins at the Gold Coast on May 23</em></p>
<p>&ldquo;As soon as he got out to his right trip last time he was excellent. He showed once he got out in distance he&rsquo;s a proper stayer and he&rsquo;ll run well.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Trying to kick him out of the gates to offset the barrier is probably not ideal but if he gets a little bit of luck he&rsquo;ll be very good.&rdquo;</p>

Distance Dunn's Only Doubt About Paddy's Highway Hopes

<h3 class="SlateElement"><br />by Kit Gow and Dane McLeod<br /><br /></h3>
<p class="SlateElement">The final juvenile Group 1 of the season looms with Saturday&rsquo;s G1 JJ Atkins Plate, and trainer Matthew Dunn is hoping that current Soft 5 of the Eagle Farm track will provide clear running for his promising 2-year-old colt&nbsp;<strong>Torque To Be Sure</strong>&nbsp;(Shamus Award), after visibility issues impacted both horse and jockey during the G2 BRC Sires&rsquo; Produce Stakes, run in atrocious conditions two weeks ago.</p>
<p class="SlateElement">&ldquo;The jockey said he couldn't see, so I would assume the horse probably couldn't see either,&rdquo; Dunn told media earlier in the week. &ldquo;The horse didn't have any goggles on his head like the jockey did, so he was probably in a worse spot than the jockey.</p>
<p class="SlateElement">&ldquo;The horse took the brunt of the kickback and the conditions that day, especially considering he was in a horrible spot two lengths behind the second-last horse during the race. I was worried about the wet track, but he handled it well.&rdquo;</p>
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<p class="SlateElement">Torque To Be Sure |&nbsp;<em>Image courtesy of Magic Millions</em></p>
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<p class="SlateElement">Despite the conditions, Torque To Be Sure produced a huge effort, storming home from last at both the 800-metre and 400-metre marks to finish a fast-closing fifth.</p>
<p class="SlateElement">&ldquo;I'm sure that, watching the race, if you were looking for something going to a mile next start, he was the pick. He was out the back door getting hit in the head by kickback and couldn't see where he was going, but he still launched late.&rdquo;</p>
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<blockquote>&ldquo;If you were looking for something going to a mile next start, he (Torque To Be Sure) was the pick.&rdquo; - Matthew Dunn</blockquote>
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<p class="SlateElement">Dunn lamented the colt's maiden status but acknowledged the strength of opposition faced so far.</p>
<p class="SlateElement">&ldquo;I wish he wasn't a maiden, but he shouldn't be, should he? In reality, he has run well enough to have won probably three of his starts. Because of the path we have taken with him, we have been forced to race him against better quality horses right through. It would have been lovely to take him to a maiden plate in the Northern Rivers and just let him blow them away.</p>
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<blockquote>&ldquo;It would have been lovely to take him (Torque To Be Sure) to a maiden plate in the Northern Rivers and just let him blow them away.&rdquo; - Matthew Dunn</blockquote>
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<p class="SlateElement">&ldquo;If he could win on Saturday, it would be enormous for Ian (Corazzol) who has been a huge supporter of mine. His wife passed away six weeks ago and that was a really difficult experience for him.&rdquo;</p>
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<p class="SlateElement">Matthew Dunn |&nbsp;<em>Image courtesy of Sportpix</em></p>
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<p class="SlateElement"><strong>Cool Archie&nbsp;</strong>(Cool Az A Beel {NZ}) justifiably leads the JJ Atkins betting currently, but there will be a great deal of attention on&nbsp;<strong>Aerodrome</strong>&nbsp;(Ole Kirk) and&nbsp;<strong>Providence&nbsp;</strong>(Wootton Bassett {GB}), whose sires are currently battling it out for the Champion First Season Sire title. Wootton Bassett needs the $600,000 first prize to pull ahead of Vinery Stud supremo<strong>&nbsp;Ole Kirk</strong>.</p>

Torque To Be Sure has eyes set on the JJ Atkins

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<div class="article-news__feature__img"><img src="https://static.perform.news/sites/2/2025/05/04180321/d6723d4b50f7493bf3de44673d69eac2-3.jpeg" alt="Jake Bayliss winning the $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton on the Matt Dunn-trained gelding Lubrication ahead of Comrade Rosa on Sunday. Picture: Matthew Harris / Caught in the Act Photography" /></div>
<span class="caption">Jake Bayliss winning the $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton on the Matt Dunn-trained gelding Lubrication ahead of Comrade Rosa on Sunday. Picture: Matthew Harris / Caught in the Act Photography</span></div>
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<div class="news-author__details">By&nbsp;<a class="news-author__details__name" href="https://www.racenet.com.au/news/journalist/danielpace">Daniel Pace</a><br /><time class="date" datetime="2025-05-04T07:54:47.000Z">05:54pm &bull; 04 May 2025</time></div>
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<p>Trainer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.racenet.com.au/profiles/trainer/matthew-dunn" target="_self" rel="noopener">Matt Dunn</a>&nbsp;admitted even he was surprised when his "Class 3" gelding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.racenet.com.au/profiles/horse/lubrication-aus" target="_self" rel="noopener">Lubrication</a>&nbsp;upset the big guns to land the $565,000 winner's cheque with a convincing victory in the $1 million The Archer slot race in Rockhampton on Sunday.</p>
<p>With jockey&nbsp;<a href="https://www.racenet.com.au/profiles/jockey/jake-bayliss" target="_self" rel="noopener">Jake Bayliss</a>&nbsp;on board, Lubrication ($18) came from a fair way back to beat a batch of classy southern raiders, including Bjorn Baker's star pair Sandpaper and Iowna Merc, to finish ahead of the Tony Gollan-trained Comrade Rosa ($11) and Transatlantic ($5) in the 1300m race.</p>
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<p>"He's racing better now than he ever has in his life," Murwillumbah trainer Dunn said after the upset victory for slot holder Max Whitby, the ex-Sydney racing identity who now lives on the Gold Coast.</p>
<p>"It was a proper win. To be honest I'm a little bit surprised, in a happy way.</p>
<p>"It was very exciting, unexpected and one of those thrills that come up every now and then."</p>
<p>The bookmakers clearly didn't rate five-year-old Lubrication, which was paying up to $40 early last week, following his last-start third in a Class 3 1400m race at Eagle Farm on April 19.</p>
<p>"Even when he got beat the other day (at Eagle Farm), Max was at the races and he said &lsquo;I want him for my slot' and I said &lsquo;sweet, no worries'," Dunn said.</p>
<p>"He's a Class 3 horse but I'm happy to go to a set weights plus penalties race, and take them on for that sort of money."</p>
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<p>Dunn was too busy preparing his horses for the Queensland Winter Carnival to be in Rockhampton but he joked his stable representative Wayne Wheatley would do the hard celebrating for him.</p>
<p>"I would've loved to have gone but I've just got too much on here. Not too many celebrations but I'm sure my man up there (Wheatley) will be celebrating hard," Dunn said.</p>
<p>"The horse is coming home at 6.30am and he's on an 8am flight so I hope they both make it."</p>
<p>Three-time Group 1 winner Bayliss was held up at various stages throughout the race but when a split opened up, Lubrication surged to the line and never looked like losing it from there.</p>
<p>Both Dunn and Whitby are the major owners of Lubrication, who was bought for $400,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.</p>
<p>Dunn had every intention of spelling Lubrication but he might be having second thoughts given the gelding is in "career-best form".</p>
<p><img src="https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/527f3efa8c705be0c33a98a6cd7c6b7d" alt="" height="360" /></p>
<p><em>A delighted Jake Bayliss after winning The Archer in Rockhampton on Sunday. Picture: Matthew Harris/Caught in the Act Photography.</em></p>
<p>"He's got a few miles under his belt," Dunn said.</p>
<p>"The idea was to give him a break but he's racing so well and he looks so good.</p>
<p>"He beat some decent horses there and beat them fair and square.</p>
<p>"Who knows where he ends up? Maybe races like the Glasshouse Handicap (over 1400m on the Sunshine Coast on July 5).</p>
<p>"It depends what they do with him regarding his rating. It's always difficult to stick horses in the paddock when they're racing in career-best form."</p>
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Lubrication too slick for his rivals in The Archer

<div id="ct_code_block_100038_post_2400" class="ct-code-block">Dunn Eyes Domination Of NRRA Country Championships (Lismore Saturday)</div>
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<p><strong>By Greg Prichard</strong></p>
<p>Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn says the stranglehold his representatives Fukubana and Tribeca Star have on the betting market is as it should be heading into the Evergreen Turf NRRA Country Championships at Lismore on Saturday.</p>
<p>TAB has Fukubana as a $2.50 favourite ahead of Tribeca Star at $2.70 for the $150,000 race over 1410 metres.</p>
<p>The only other horse at less than double-figure odds is Lubrication, a $6 chance that is also trained by Dunn.</p>
<p>The first and second placegetters will qualify for the $1 million Evergreen Turf Country Championships Final over 1400 metres at Randwick on April 5.</p>
<p>Dunn says he&rsquo;ll be &ldquo;disappointed&rdquo; if he doesn&rsquo;t qualify at least one horse and is &ldquo;optimistic&rdquo; about the chances of getting two through.</p>
<div id="attachment_141517" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img class=" wp-image-141517" src="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/dunn-ws.jpg" alt="" height="203" data-attachment-id="141517" data-permalink="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/news/country-news/big-representation-from-dunn-stable-at-grafton-tuesday/attachment/1786562-jpg/" data-orig-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/dunn-ws.jpg" data-orig-size="2784,4176" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;1786562.jpg&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1516380734&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;\u00a9 Copyright Bradley Photographers 02 48681433 \r\nWeb \/ screen display only.Not to be printed.\r\nCredit to Bradley Photographers\r\nNo other use or distribution.All rights reserved.\r\nphotos@bradleyphotos.com.au&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;180&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;1786562.jpg&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="1786562.jpg" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/dunn-ws.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/dunn-ws.jpg" />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Trainer Matthew Dunn (Pic: Bradley Photos)</p>
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<p>The trainer has a sensational winning strike-rate of 29.60 per cent in country races this season and because of that his opinion going into a big race in which he has multiple fancied runners is important to hear.</p>
<p>Fukubana originally went up as a $2 favourite, but subsequently eased as Tribeca Star firmed and Dunn says the tiny difference between the pair now is much more like how he sees it.</p>
<p>&ldquo;On his form Fukubana should be short, shouldn&rsquo;t he,&rdquo; Dunn said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I mean, he&rsquo;s got proper stakes form.</p>
<p>&ldquo;In saying that I&rsquo;d probably have Tribeca Star a little bit in front of him just because he&rsquo;s a bit more seasoned and a bit tougher, but the two of them being close in the betting is right and you could go either way.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the same as in most years, you need proper city form to be competitive in a qualifier, so they&rsquo;re where they should be at the top of the market.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Lubrication is a little bit shorter than I&rsquo;d see him, but he&rsquo;s definitely in with a chance.&rdquo;</p>
<p>As a three-year-old, Fukubana finished fourth in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill in February of last year. He then finished well back in the Group One Randwick Guineas before going for a long spell after sustaining an injury in trackwork.</p>
<p>He has resumed with a third followed by a win, both in Brisbane.</p>
<p>Tribeca Star, which won last year&rsquo;s NRRA qualifier and finished sixth in the final, has had one run this time in for an excellent third, also in Brisbane.</p>
<p>Lubrication was also an impressive third in Brisbane at his only run this campaign.</p>
<p>Here is Dunn&rsquo;s take on the chances of each of his three runners:</p>
<p><strong>FUKUBANA</strong>: &ldquo;He was excellent last start over 1350 metres. He was in an awkward spot in a slowly-run race and really didn&rsquo;t get to his top speed until the last 100 metres but he was still very effective and really put them to the sword in the end.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s probably going to be at his absolute best over a little bit further than 1400, but we&rsquo;ve kept him nice and fresh for this so he should be sweet.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a long way back when you&rsquo;re off the scene for as long as he was, but he&rsquo;s come back great. This time last year his Hobartville run was terrific and I think we&rsquo;ve nearly got him back to where he was then.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>TRIBECA STAR</strong>: &ldquo;He got stuck wide in last year&rsquo;s final. He never got any closer than five deep. Drew a bad gate and it went against him. But he was still good value in running sixth.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I reckon he&rsquo;s now going better than last year. Good first-up, just got a long way back and they ran home in really quick time, so he&rsquo;s in good shape.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I can see him settling down in a nice spot from barrier four, about fifth on the fence, and he&rsquo;ll be well placed to make a run at them from there.&rdquo;.</p>
<p><strong>LUBRICATION</strong>: &ldquo;His form doesn&rsquo;t look as good as the other two, but first-up he was excellent. He should&rsquo;ve won, he just got stuck in behind them at a really vital time in the race and had to drop anchor and sort of go back and let the winner go and then try to go around it.</p>
<p>&ldquo;No doubt he should&rsquo;ve beaten the winner (Volcanic Love, which is also in the qualifier).</p>
<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a chance for sure and these horses just seem to run for our new apprentice, Jett Newman. It&rsquo;s quite incredible how well they go for her and she&rsquo;s had a great start to her career. I&rsquo;m sure he&rsquo;ll do his best for her.&rdquo;</p>
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Dunn Eyes Domination Of NRRA Country Championships

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<br />Welcome to the wrap up of the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.&nbsp; We looked for value only at this sale for owners to be able to be a part of the stable and we found just that with these really nice yearlings.&nbsp;<br /><br />Lot 255&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;STAR TURN Filly for $80,000<br />https://inglis.com.au/sale/2025-classic-yearling-sale?tab=catalogue&amp;selected_lot=255<br /><br />A big strong Filly with a great frame who carries her size well. A page littered in black type.<br /><br />Lot 271&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;OLE KIRK Colt for $70,000<br />https://inglis.com.au/sale/2025-classic-yearling-sale?tab=catalogue&amp;selected_lot=271<br /><br />By the leading first season sire and 2YO sire for this year with the Breeder's Plate winner and Magic Millions winner.&nbsp; A direct descendant of the Niarchos' 3 time Group 1 winner and Champion 3YO Miler EAST OF THE MOON.&nbsp; Such an easy moving horse.<br /><br />Lot 561&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;ACROBAT Filly for $70,000<br />https://inglis.com.au/sale/2025-classic-yearling-sale?tab=catalogue&amp;selected_lot=561<br /><br />A strong, good looking Filly who will run early just as her father did.<br /><br />Enquiries and further information sales@matthewdunnracing.com or Sue at admin@matthewdunnracing.com

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