IN-FORM trainer Dunn rates Eagle Farm debutant Trestrail easily his best two-year-old and had his opinion franked in a jumpout against older stablemates earlier this week.
Trestrail is the $ 2.70 UBET favourite for Saturday’s 2YO Handicap at Eagle Farm after finishing off strongly for third in a Gold Coast trial last month.
HOT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS
“I think she’s very good,” Dunn said. “She’s my best two-year-old by a long way. I gave her a (900m) jumpout on Monday morning against Quatronic, Perfect Dare and Conniving, and she went as good as any of those.
“Perfect Dare beat home Group 1 horses at his last start, so usually when unraced horses can go with a horse like that, they turn out OK.”
Dunn said punters shouldn’t be deterred by the Sebring filly settling a long way off them in the trial.
Trainer Matt Dunn is looking forward to Trestrail’s debut on Saturday. Picture: Jono SearleSource:News Corp Australia
“We did that by design,” he said. “We wanted to give her a look at the back of other horses. She doesn’t need to get back, but I am happy to have drawn wide, because it means if she’s a bit slow into stride, she has time to find her feet.”
Dunn, who has had nine winners in his last 32 runners, could be in for another big haul at Eagle Farm, where he also has fresh specialist Quatronic, improving three-year-old Dia De Reyes and former Victorian-based import Guest Of Honour.
“If I just looked at Guest Of Honour’s trial, I would think he’s a great chance, because he trialled really good,” Dunn said. “He beat Florida Fellow, who’s normally a trial star, and did it easily, which shocked me a bit, because his work either side of the trial has only been average.”
Quatronic was scratched from Canterbury on Friday night to run Saturday and Dunn thinks it’s the perfect race for him, even though he’s still not 100 per cent happy with the horse.
Quatronic was scratched from Canterbury on Friday night to race at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Simon BullardSource:News Corp Australia
“It’s best if I just don’t look at him. He’s a big-framed horse, but he doesn’t carry enough on top,” he said. “I wish he would carry more weight. There’s just not enough strength there and that’s why he’s had short preparations. I just hope he doesn’t melt on me like previous preps.
“But he usually fires fresh and this looks the right race.”
Dia De Reyes was scratched from Randwick to run at Eagle Farm and Dunn is hoping this race buys him a place in the Country Championship Qualifier at Grafton on February 12.
“He beat a substandard field at Ballina and this is probably 4-5 lengths tougher, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did make the necessary improvement. He was pretty impressive last time and I’d like to think he’s a good each way chance.”
