Dunn hopeful Sagacious can bounce back from Ballina Cup defeat

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matthew Dunn is overlooking Sagacious’ Ballina Cup defeat and is hopeful the five-year-old can bounce back to winning form in the Open Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Sagacious, who clashes with stable mate Southern Rock, registered the sixth win of his career when successful over 1550 metres on his home track at Murwillumbah on December 27 of last year. 

Dunn was confident the son of Foxwedge could go to win the Ballina Cup over 1590 metres on January 13 but the five-year-old had no luck finishing fourth, just over one length behind winner, Point Counterpoint.

“He ran a great race in the Ballina Cup but he was three deep most of the way and never had any cover,” Dunn said.

“He’s a nice horse who is racing well but he’s only recently come back from a tendon inquiry which required 12 months off.”

Sagacious suffered the tendon injury after winning at the Sunshine Coast on December 4, 2021 and has had four starts in his current campaign.

Sagacious earned a start in the Queensland Derby in 2020 after putting together four wins from five starts as a three-year-old but was outclassed, finishing ninth to the Chris Waller-trained Kukeracha in the Group 1 feature.

Dunn has no major plans in mind with Sagacious but has declared him as his stable’s best Eagle Farm chance.

“We’ve got five in at Eagle Farm and he looks our best along with Centre Bounce,” he said.

Centre Bounce clashes with stable mate Street Smarts in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1400 metres.

“Streets Smarts was scratched from Doomben on Wednesday because of a wide gate and her form has been a bit patchy,” Dunn said.

“She’s been losing concentration in the straight so I’m putting blinkers and a tongue-tie on for this.

“Streets Smarts will eventually be the better horse of the two but Centre Bounce is probably the better chance on Saturday.”

Centre Bounce won at Ballina and Murwillumbah before finishing a game third behind Tsarina Sophia at Doomben on January 21.

“She’s been going good and she was good through the line last time,” he said.

Dunn has a stable of more than 70 in work at his Murwillumbah base following his decision to close his Sydney stable last year.