Matthew Dunn back to his home comforts at Murwillumbah

By Jordan Gerrans

It takes horses a little bit longer to get fitter when they are based in Northern NSW but it is not a problem trainer Matthew Dunn is too worried about.

The experienced horseman recently closed his satellite Sydney stable after two years of trying to make it work in the Harbour City.

He prepared his team out of Murwillumbah before he tried his luck in the big smoke and that is where he has returned to with his band of gallopers.

Dunn trained from the Tweed River Jockey Club for around a decade before having a look in Sydney.

There are most certainly significant differences when comparing Sydney to Murwillumbah for a racehorse but for Dunn, he believes relaxation is the biggest factor.

Since moving permanently back to Northern NSW, Dunn notes his team are much calmer.

On the flip side, as they are not being trained in the hustle and bustle of Sydney, the horses do not have that constant buzz of other horses being around in a busy training complex and with that, it does take more work on the track to get them fit.

For international import Cepheus – who is aiming to claim the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes on Saturday afternoon – that works perfectly.

“This is especially relevant with a horse like Cepheus, he is a horse that has been well travelled and done all he needs to do,” Dunn said.

“We just need him to be a horse that relaxes into his work and get it done.

“As far as environment goes, Murwillumbah is a place most horses enjoy more so, compared to the tracks in Sydney.”

The European stayer - Cepheus - led from start to finish in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes in Sydney earlier this year.

The six-year-old gelding was off the racing scene for the entire 2022 campaign through injury and Dunn was glad to see Cepheus announce his return at Rosehill in the Ajax Stakes.

Dunn did not anticipate he would lead on that occasion in Sydney and admits he is still learning about the Great Britain-bred gelding.

“He is throwing curve balls at us because we did not think he would lead on that occasion as he is a 2000 metre plus horse,” Dunn said.

“I am learning as I go with him as he is a horse with a massive amount of talent but it is about finding his spot in races for him.”

The stable is planning to go towards the Doomben Cup following Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes, which will be run at Caloundra in 2023 with the Gold Coast track being redeveloped.

The Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki is shooting to become the first horse to win three Hollindale Stakes on Saturday.

On top of Zaaki, the field is stacked with quality and Dunn believes his galloper will be able to measure up.

“He is proven to be up to these horses, his win in the Ajax was outstanding,” he said.

“He was coming back from a tendon injury and had a year off so we needed something to suggest that he had made it back.

“That win, he was strong late after surprisingly leading and that was a strong win against good opposition.

“He is proven that he is now ready to go a little bit further, up to the Hollindale and then on to the Doomben Cup.

“He is a top quality horse and I am really happy with him.

“I think he is in the right spot on Saturday and he will then proceed to the Doomben Cup.”

Dunn’s decision to close his Warwick Farm stable late last year means his Murwillumbah base has around 100 horses in work, with plans to build a further 20 stables.

He could not obtain the large number of boxes that he was after in Sydney.

“We gave Sydney a red hot crack but stable numbers more than anything just hamstrung us a bit,” he said.

“We had to make the decision to do something and we decided to come back to here.”

The former jockey is relishing being back at Murwillumbah, regularly racing his team across South East Queensland, as well as the Northern Rivers of NSW.

“I think location is one of the big benefits of being here, it is one of the more beautiful places in the world,” Dunn said.

“Horses relax well here and we are an hour and a half from Brisbane, it is a perfect spot.

“There is so many tracks in close proximity.

“It is a great spot, as well as the environment and location.”

As well as Cepheus chasing black-type honours on Saturday at Caloundra, the barn will also have promising youngster Lubrication in the Gold Coast Guineas, which will be run at Group 3 level.

The I Am Invincible colt just has the one victory next to his name from seven career starts but Dunn has lofty ambitions for his three-year-old.

Lubrication’s sole victory came in the Pierata Plate over 1200 metres at Doomben on December 3 and Dunn has nominated the colt for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap later in the carnival.

“He is a top quality horse with a wonderful pedigree,” Dunn said.

“Obviously he has the talent and he is learning his trade as he goes along, he still has a little way to go in that area of mental attitude.

“He is a horse with enough talent to get to where he needs to be. He is very athletic.”

Lubrication stormed home from near last in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate last start and Dunn says they will have a similar plan this Saturday, allow the colt to find his feet while being ridden soft and let him roar home late.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Lubrication is rated an $18 chance with the TAB in the 1200 metre event.