Cepheus on target for Dunn's biggest pay day

By Glenn Davis

Cepheus will continue Matthew Dunn’s quest for his biggest ever pay-day in next month’s The Big Dance in Sydney when the British import runs at Rosehill on Saturday.

Cepheus, a brilliant last-start winner in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes at Rosehill last month, will again be ridden by Nash Rawiller in the Allan Brown Stakes over 1400 metres.

The seven-year-old qualified for the 1600 metre The Big Dance, which carries prize money of $3 million, by winning the South Grafton Cup in July.

“He’s going great and is in a good spot for The Big Dance,” Dunn said.

“If he wins The Big Dance, it’ll be my biggest win money wise.

“I’ve won a couple on Magic Millions day worth $160,000 to the winner with Madotti and Care To Think but The Big Dance would easily surpass that.”

Cepheus was a $600,000 buy by OTI Racing after winning over middle distances in the United Kingdom and was once considered a Melbourne Cup hope in 2021. 

However, he bowed a tendon in the Listed Tatts Cup at Randwick that year, which forced him to have a lengthy spell to recuperate. 

Dunn credited Cepheus’ resurgence since suffering the tendon injury to Victorian Matt Willamson who does a lot of work rehabilitating injured horses.

“OTI send a lot of their horses with injuries to Matt and this horse went to him for 12 months after he bowed a tendon a few years ago,” Dunn said.

“But, he’s always had a lot of ability.”

Dunn knew Cepheus was top shelf and up to the top grade in Sydney when he claimed the Group 2 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill in March.

He subsequently showed his dislike for heavy tracks when he beat only two home in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick on April 1.

Dunn was disappointed when Cepheus was allotted top weight. 

“He’s certainly got a lot of weight and I knew he’d get around that mark but it’s disappointing something with a higher rating wasn’t nominated,” Dunn said.

“He’ll run well at Rosehill but I’ve left some juice in the tank as The Big Dance is still a few weeks away.”

Dunn was thrilled with Cepheus win in the Shannon Stakes when he stormed home for a dominant victory over Williamsburg.

After qualifying for The Big Dance in the South Grafton Cup, Cepheus had a short break before finishing a respectable fifth, beaten just over three lengths, by Irish Songs in the Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup at Eagle Farm last month.

Cepheus will have one more run on his journey to The Big Dance in the Filante Handicap over 1600 metres at Randwick on October 21.