With five runners engaged at Doomben on Saturday Matthew Dunn elected to head north from his Murwillumbah base, while long time deputy Holly Julius made the long trek to Rosehill Gardens with lone representative Eaglemont. Success was sweet at both venues. Eaglemont overcame a chequered run to win the TAB Highway, while Stuck With You registered his tenth win for the Dunn stable in winning the BM 90 in Brisbane. Crazy Train went close to making it a double when he just failed to peg back Inasec in a mares sprint. This followed wins for the stable at Ipswich on Wednesday with Derry Grove, and Lismore on Friday with Lady Falvelon.
Interestingly Matt trains both Eaglemont and Stuck With You for high profile syndication company OTI Racing and Bloodstock which manages the racing and breeding careers of quality bloodstock in Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and South Africa. “I guess I’ve had twenty horses all up for OTI most of which have come from other stables to the lovely environment at Murwillumbah,” said Matt.
“Eaglemont began racing in Ireland where he won a race at Dundalk in 2020. He won races at Ballarat and Sandown for Maher and Eustace last year after which his form tapered off a little. OTI’s Terry Henderson thought he was a prime candidate for a complete change of scenery and he’s just now starting to respond. He’s had five runs back from a lengthy spell for a couple of Doomben seconds and Saturday’s strong win at Rosehill. He goes to the beach regularly and is really enjoying his new life.”
Eaglemont had to overcome a few obstacles to win the TAB Highway. He began only fairly, which may have been advantageous because a swarm of horses got involved in a frenetic battle for the lead. The son of dual English and Irish Derby winner Camelot, was midfield on the fence in the run to the turn where Zac Lloyd started to probe for openings. Eaglemont copped a noticeable bump from Nullify at the 300m and a little further on was hampered by Chase My Crown which laid in significantly. Despite those two hiccups the import rallied strongly and was tigerish on the line to beat Burrandana. Matthew is yet to discuss likely options for the horse with OTI, but next year’s Country Championship is in the back of his mind. “If that becomes the chosen path we’ll obviously have to forget the spring and get him straight into the paddock,” said Matt. “We’ll sort it out in the coming days.”
Eaglemont overcame a chequered run to win Saturday's TAB Highway. Matt watched the race from Doomben - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
The only OTI horse specifically purchased overseas for Matt Dunn to train is the talented Cepheus who won two races in England and one in France before being sourced by the Australian talent scouts. “Two of those wins were at 2200m and 2500m which created the impression he was a potential stayer,” says Matt. “He was still a stallion when he resumed after a good spell with a fast finishing fourth over 1400m at Kembla, looking nothing like a two miler. Three of his next four runs were disappointing while the other resulted in a cracking third to Think It Over in the Hill Stakes. With a view to bringing him back in distance we freshened him up and gave him a quiet barrier trial. He pulled up with a pretty decent bow in one tendon. We bit the bullet, had him gelded and turned him out for an extended break. It was almost a year before he resumed.”
Restricted to shorter races, Cepheus has been a different horse this time in. Following two Doomben placings he put it all together with a dashing win in the Gr 2 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill with Nash Rawiller up. He raced like a quality sprinter to lead throughout and beat nice horses like Waterford, Caesar’s Palace and Bandersnatch. A slow start and a four wide run throughout put him out of play in the Doncaster, but he hasn’t put a foot wrong since. Following two stakes placings at Doomben he finished fourth in the Eyeliner and second in the Glasshouse before getting his consolation in a strong South Grafton Cup on July 9th. As far as the troublesome tendon is concerned, so far so good. The South Grafton Cup win qualifies him for the Big Dance on Melbourne Cup day.
Cepheus (Nash Rawiller) led all the way to win the Ajax Stakes at Rosehill in March - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Eaglemont’s win on Saturday gave the trainer his 27th TAB Highway success since the inception of the concept in 2015. Despite missing close to three years after opening his Sydney stable, Matt maintains his spot at the top of the Highway trainer’s table ahead of Danny Williams (22.5) with Terry Robinson a close third (21). “I had to relinquish my eligibility for the TAB Highways when I opened my Rosehill base in 2020,” he said. “It’s gratifying to think we’re still in front. When we closed the Rosehill stables at the end of last year and returned to Murwillumbah, I had to sit out a six month transitional period before I was again eligible for the Highways.
“If I had my time over again I wouldn’t consider the Sydney experiment. I had twenty horses in work at Rosehill while Holly Julius continued to manage the Murwillumbah operation. She did a superb job and we continued to communicate frequently, but there was a slow defection of owners from the northern base. The twenty horses I had in Sydney were finding it tough to win. Between stable rentals and my own accommodation in Sydney my expenses were getting out of hand. All things considered I had little option but to revert to my previous situation. I’ve got to say it probably took six months to regenerate the Murwillumbah business, but thankfully we’re back on track with 80 horses in work. It’s a wonderful place to train.”
It’s a contented Matthew Dunn who’s back in familiar territory and on the crest of a winning wave. It’s been a fascinating journey for the young man from Sydney’s Northern Beaches who’s from a non racing background. His father Keith ran a busy earth moving business which saw young Dunn operating bobcats and excavators long before he ever put a head collar on a horse. He later tried his hand as an apprentice jockey at Port Macquarie, and rode a number of winners before commencing his training career in the same town.
Matt is now happily ensconced back at Murwillumbah with 80 horses in training - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
He returned to Keith’s earthmoving business for a short time, before making a fresh start as a trainer on the Gold Coast. Matt showed enough talent to come under the notice of top trainer Gerald Ryan who was about to open a new Sydney base at Rosehill. He accepted Ryan’s invitation to manage the new operation and acquitted himself admirably over the next three years. When Gerald relocated to Sydney, Matt stayed for another five years as stable foreman before being overtaken by the need for a change.
When he informed Gerald that top grade stabling was available at Murwillumbah, Ryan made the surprise offer to use the northern base as a satellite stable with Matt at the helm. Gerald decided to bow out after two years, and Matt Dunn was in the box seat to launch a solo training career.
Current figures credit him with 1137 wins and 1771 placings which includes two Gr 2’s, three Gr 3’s and four listed races. He rates Care To Think potentially the best horse he’s trained so far. After winning two races on the Gold Coast including a Magic Millions Cup, three races at Doomben and a TAB Highway at Randwick the gelding’s career was cut short by a breathing infirmity. The Magic Millions Cup win contributed largely to Care To Think’s huge prize money tally of almost $880,000. The trainer has a Country Championship Final under his belt per medium of Gracie Belle and a Takeover Target Stakes with Snitz. Other highlights on the M.J. Dunn CV include an Ortensia Stakes at Scone with Quatronic, a Vo Rogue Plate and Magic Millions Quality with Madotti. Throw in a Doomben Roses with Kedebe and a Ken Russell Memorial Classic with Subterranean and you’ve got a nice little collection of prized races.
A Country Championship Final win with grey mare Gracie Belle at Randwick 2020. Al Mah Haha was second and Plonka third - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The absence of a Gr 1 victory is obviously a thorn in the side for the talented horseman but any astute judge will tell you it’s only a matter of time before he sets that right. Perhaps the greatest inspiration Matt Dunn has at his disposal is the opportunity to present Murwillumbah with its maiden Gr 1 trophy. Such an honour would bring great credit to a staunch little racing town, and lifetime bragging rights to its residents.
Care To Think (Tye Angland) wins a TAB Highway 2017 - according to Matt the best horse he's trained - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Eaglemont (Zac Lloyd) gives Matt Dunn his 27th TAB Highway success - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)