Dunn's skills show no sign of letting up

DAVID HALLETT/The Press

GOING WELL: Dexter Dunn has already had 63 winners just four months into the new season.

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You would think Dexter Dunn was living the quiet life.

He has been out of the news and unnoticed amid all the glitz and glam of the early months of the new season.

But Dunn is on fire, a big statement after his deeds last year, but the numbers speak for themselves.

Already just four months into the new season he has 63 winners, ahead of where he was at the same period last year. And while he isn't making the headlines as frequently as he has in the past, it's suiting Dunn just fine.

"Things are going good.

"I'm just chipping away and trying to drive a few winners, and so far I am ahead of where I was this time last year so things are going well."

While the thought of breaking last year's mind-shattering 204 win tally for the season is a long way off, the signs bode well for the high-flying youngster.

He will be in action today at Ashburton looking to add to that figure where he has a book of five drives.

"I actually thought I should have a pretty good day to be honest. All my drives are with a good show, so it's going to come down to what sort of form I am in."

Dunn drives Ima Icon (Race 1), Mached Out (Race 3), Mystic Reign (Race 4), Docmelfi (Race 6) and Hilarious Life (Race 8). It was Mystic Reign however that enthused Dunn the most.

"Just forget the last start, the track was real slippery and she couldn't get her footing. Back on the grit track will help her and if she can get back to her form that she was in before her last start, she is a great hope."

It will be a big week for Dunn who heads to Australia on Friday to drive Bettor's Strike for Cran Dalgety, in Friday night's Victoria Cup.

Dunn spoke to Dalgety yesterday morning while Dalgety was on his way to the barrier draw function and when asked what draw he would like Dunn gave a simple answer.

"On the second line behind Smoken Up, please."

And that's exactly what he got.

"It's perfect for him, Smoken Up looks like he could end up being an untested leader early which means we will get the great run in behind him. It's a great field though so all things will have to go our way."

Another interesting aspect to today's meeting comes in race two, the non-winners' trot, with Lookslikeatrooper making his raceday debut.

Trained by Justin and Lynn Smith of Te Pirita, the son of C R Commando is the first foal out of recent group one winning mare Speculate. It is a strange occurrence to have a mare race after having a foal, but there are a few exceptions.

Speculate's recent deeds on the track, including her gritty win in the New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All, need no introduction. It appears some of those genes have been passed down to Lookslikeatrooper. His qualifying effort had him finishing third behind U Can I Can who was a recent Addington winner. Second in the heat was the exciting James Jazzmine who appears near unbeatable when she finds the front.

The race however won't be handed to Lookslikeatrooper with horses such as Millwood Munchkin and Dreamit included. Dreamit returns as a three-year-old after consistent efforts as a two-year-old.

- © Fairfax NZ News