Trainer Matthew Dunn sets long range target for Tribeca Star

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matthew Dunn will consider another bid for next year’s $1 million Country Championships Final at Randwick in Sydney if talented sprinter Tribeca Star wins at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Dunn already has a Country Champions Final under his belt following Gracie Belle’s win in 2020.

The son of Star Turn was a dual-acceptor in the Class 3 Handicap over 1100 metres and is an emergency in Dunn’s preferred race, the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1200 metres.

He is an emergency and is struggling to obtain a start in the Benchmark 70 Handicap in which he drew poorly in barrier 15.

However, Tribeca Star – a Ben Thompson mount - is likely to start in the Class 3 race after drawing perfectly in gate four, setting up a clash with stable mates Emperor and Goomeri.

At his last appearance, Tribeca Star produced an eye-catching performance, flashing home to go down narrowly to the Sharryn Livingstone-trained Thelwell in a $100,000 Class 1 race at the Sunshine Coast on September 29.

Tribeca Star has had a limited career due to immaturity and shin soreness as a younger horse which has restricted his career to five starts for a win and four placings.

An $80,000 buy at the Sydney Inglis Sales, Tribeca Star is ineligible for the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in January.

But, that won’t stop Dunn from aiming high with the four-year-old who is likely to head towards the Country Championships Final at Randwick in April.

“He’s a decent horse and it was normal for him to get some shin soreness early on,” Dunn said.

“He got an infected pedal bone after he won his maiden at Doomben in March and he ran a good second first-up when he was beaten by a more seasoned horse at the Sunshine Coast.

“If he wins or runs well at Ipswich he’ll head to a Highway race in Sydney next start and he could possibly measure up to a few of the early summer carnival races in Brisbane.”

Dunn has a good opinion of Tribeca Star who has developed into a strong galloper and capable of running 1400 metres.

“He’s a big strong type now and has the right attitude and quickens well,” Dunn said.

“He can put himself into a race which is another positive and I think he’ll run 1400 metres.”

Tribeca Star was based at Dunn’s former Sydney stable at Warwick Farm last year before it was closed last December.

Dunn is chasing his biggest ever pay-day with imported galloper Cepheus in the $3 million The Big Dance at Randwick on November 7.