Elson Boy’s effortless win in a Mudgee barrier trial on Sunday March 31st, gave veteran trainer Dar Lunn almost as big a thrill as an official race win. His stable star had won the Coonamble Country Championship Qualifier two weeks earlier, but the trainer was concerned about a three week gap to the Randwick Final. With one week to go to the $1 million feature, Dar opted for a “tick over” trial at Mudgee. With Olivia Chambers on board Elson Boy was never out of second gear in winning a 1000m open heat. He was clearly right at the top of his game.
Back at his Dubbo stables a few hours later, the trainer was delighted to see Elson Boy walk into his box and literally rush to the feed bin. “I was back in the stable at 4.00 the following morning expecting to see the horse looking for a follow up feed, but I was in for one hell of a shock,” said Dar. “He was standing there with his head almost on the ground, looking very distressed. He couldn’t raise his head high enough for me to get a head collar in place. When we finally got him out of the box it was clear he was in big trouble. I was completely at a loss to explain it. Sixteen hours earlier he’d flown in the Mudgee trial. Now he couldn’t so much as turn his head left or right.”
A procession of vets, chiropractors and massage therapists visited the Lunn stables over the following week. None could pinpoint the precise problem, but all confirmed it appeared to be a deep muscle strain in the neck extending into one shoulder. “I had no idea how and when it happened,” said Dar. “All I could think about was the Country Championship Final. It broke my heart when I had to contact Racing NSW and pull him out of a one million dollar race. Informing the owners was one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do.”
Elson Boy (Tom Berry) holds out Gallant Star (Sam Clipperton) to win the Coonamble Qualifier in March. Dar's elation was short-lived - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
With the gelding’s immediate future up in the air, Dar simply hand walked him for long periods while the chiropractors and therapists continued to visit. For a few days Elson Boy’s mood remained sombre. Towards the end of the week he clearly brightened up. Day by day his demeanour improved and so did his flexibility. At the start of the following week Dar mounted up and took him for a quiet trot and canter. “Whatever the problem was, he’d thrown it off,” said the trainer. “It wasn’t long before he was bucking and squealing coming off the track as he’d always done. “We’d been robbed of a great opportunity at Randwick, but at least we had our horse back.”
Dar thought about nominating Elson Boy for the $200,000 Tamworth Cup on April 26th, but decided against subjecting the horse to a 300 km road trip. With the blessing of owners Guy Mitchell and Rob Pratten, he elected instead to take the much easier option of the $27,000 Digger’s Cup “just down the road” at Narromine. Elson Boy quickly led for Braith Nock and showed his trademark tenacity to hold off Gidgee Guy in the 1300m event. Dar wasn’t concerned about the narrow winning margin. The horse had missed a considerable amount of work, while his well known appetite had obviously contributed. The benefit he took from the Narromine run was on display at Mudgee two weeks later.
The trainer elected to utilise Chelsea Hillier’s 1.5 kg country claim in the 1400m $40,000 Goree Cup. Showing total indifference to a Heavy 9 track Elson Boy crossed to lead from a wide gate and was never going to get beaten. Allowed to drift to the middle of the track by Hillier, the four year old powered down the running to post a margin of almost 4 lengths. Dar’s attention immediately turned to the metro class Scone meeting one week ahead.
Although disheartened by yet another horror barrier draw, Elson Boy’s connections decided to undertake the three and a half hour trek to the Hunter Valley for Saturday’s 3&4YO BM 72 over a very suitable 1300m. This time Chelsea Hillier was able to use her full 3kg claim, and made her intentions clear to rival jockeys from the outset. Dar expected the gelding to cross them fairly comfortably and was concerned when it took him close to 400m to reach the lead. Elson Boy immediately came back to his rider and got a “breather” in the run to the hometurn. He looked vulnerable in the straight when seriously challenged by Ostraka, but it was here his fighting qualities kicked in. Elson Boy savaged the line to win by almost a length.
Elson Boy overcame a wide barrier to beat Ostraka in the BM72 at Scone - courtesy Steve Hart Photograhics.
Chelsea Hillier’s composure was evident as she sent Elson Boy to the line hands and heels. The promising apprentice is indentured to local trainer Rod Northam, and Lunn saw good sense in utilising her knowledge of the Scone track. “She’d ridden a handful of winners for me previously,” said Dar. “I’ve been watching her rides closely in recent months and you can see her improving all the time. Chelsea doesn’t panic and keeps them balanced when things get desperate as she showed on Saturday. She’ll never forget the occasion. It was her first win at metropolitan level.”
Very few horses in any grade have had a better season than Elson Boy. The El Roca gelding’s Scone win was his fifth on the trot and his seventh for the 2023/2024 season. His record now stands at eight wins and one second for a tidy $260,000 in prize money.
Elson Boy was a $6000 purchase by racing enthusiast Guy Mitchell from a 2021 Inglis Digital Auction. “He’d come from NZ to the Mark Newnham stables at Randwick, but I’m not sure that he even had a start for Mark before turning up on the online sale,” said Dar Lunn. “Guy Mitchell lives at Binnaway near Coonabarabran and is a great racing man. He never stops studying the sales entries and puts a lot of work into the job. He’s a great owner who loves his horses and gets a huge thrill when we come up with a winner. His partner in Elson Boy is Rob Pratten who has an automotive mechanical business in Dubbo. Rob loves a punt and gave the horse a big cheer when he hit the line on Saturday.”
Image 4 - Dar Lunn at Scone on Saturday. He didn't leave a stone unturned in getting Elson Boy over his major setback - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
A metropolitan class win was a huge thrill for 64 year old Dar Lunn whose career was put on hold two years ago when he suffered a mild stroke. The experienced horseman was grounded by doctors for three months. He was forced to place fifteen horses with other trainers while he steadfastly followed a stringent rehabilitation programme. The veteran made a full recovery and couldn’t wait to get back to work.
Dar is from a family of trainers and jockeys, and is the first to tell you he “knows nothing else but racing”. He had his first race ride at fifteen years of age and was still riding winners in his late forties. The last of more than 700 winners as a jockey was Spinning Yarns at Warren for his trainer/brother Garry in 2011. Dar won many western districts features but maintains his biggest thrill was to win a race on Tilbatod for trainer Steve Bell at Brisbane’s famous Eagle Farm track. He can be found most morning’s riding the bulk of his team in trackwork at the Dubbo racecourse.
As of Sunday morning Dar was undecided about Elson Boy’s immediate future programme. The options include a benchmark race in Sydney or perhaps a trip to Brisbane if a suitable race appears towards the end of the Queensland carnival. He hasn’t dismissed the upcoming July carnival at Grafton. “I believe this horse is going better than he was before the recent setback,” said the trainer. “He’s a quick beginner and can lead or sit off the pace if necessary. His best asset at this time of year is his ability to handle any type of going. It’s a funny old game this racing business. Six or seven weeks ago his racing career looked in danger. Here we are now looking for the right race for him.”
Here's Dar with the trainer's trophy after Elson Boy's win in the Coonamble Qualifier - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Chelsea Hillier has posted 80 wins in just three years of race riding. Saturday's win was her first at Metro class - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Winners are grinners! Chelsea Hillier notched her first metro class win on Elson Boy at Scone - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)