3 minute read
After a slow start at the first day of the Air Mauritius & Attitude International Jockeys’ Weekend, Dwayne Dunn made amends with one winner in the main race on Sunday.
The Australian jockey’s only winner from his 12 rides at the Champ de Mars track was the well-backed Horse Guards in the Air Mauritius ‘Pailles en Queue” Trophy 2018 over 1400m.
Taking a drop in fourth place on the rails, Dunn waited for the top of the straight to test his mount, who responded with blinding turn of foot.
It was a relieved Dunn who weighed back in, coming off the back of a first Leg on Saturday, which had not been quite a fruitful day.
“I can breathe better now. There was a bit of pressure going into the second day as I hadn’t won yet,” said Dunn.
“I didn’t want to run last, more so as the races are televised on the world stage and back home as well.
“This can only improve the turnover and help the Club out. I had a great time here, the accommodation was great and Attitude (chain of hotels) was fantastic.”
Indeed starting Sunday in last place, Dunn was off to a much better start than Sunday with a couple of placings on Starsky (fourth) and Antwerp (second). He then sat out the next three races before getting the leg-up on Horse Guards.
Suddenly, Dunn was back in the game after Horse Guards romped in, leaping from ninth to fifth spot, but unfortunately, he could only add one solitary point courtesy of Rebel Alliance’s fourth in the penultimate race, the Tulawaka Cup (1500m).
But the note was soured at his next and final ride in the two-day event’s race, the Retired Racehorses Committee Trophy (1400m), when his mount Golden Ball broke down after fracturing his off fore fetlock.
“The horse broke a leg. I jumped off and was okay,” said Dunn.
“Unfortunately, these things happen in racing.”
The jockeys’ series was captured for the third time by French jockey Maxime Guyon on 34 points, one ahead of another French, Aurelien Lemaitre. Third place went to hometown hero Nooresh Juglall on 31 points.
The final standings are as follows:
Jockeys |
Country |
Points |
||
1 |
Maxime Guyon |
FRA |
34 |
|
2 |
Aurelien Lemaitre |
FRA |
33 |
|
3 |
Nooresh Juglall |
MAU |
31 |
|
4 |
Manuel Martinez |
CHL |
24 |
|
5 |
Robbie Fradd |
SA |
21 |
|
6 |
Dwayne Dunn |
AUS |
19 |
|
7 |
Manoel Nunes |
BRZ |
18 |
|
8 |
Jameer Allyhosain |
MAU |
16 |
|
9 |
Seamie Heffernan |
IRE |
15 |
|
10 |
Akshay Kumar |
IND |
12 |
|
11 |
Mickaelle Michel |
FRA |
7 |
|
11 |
Troy See |
SIN |
7 |
|
13 |
Brandon Louis |
MAU |
1 |