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Former stable guests Yamazaki and Rocketing By are now calling Matt Dunn’s Murwillumbah base home and the pair will debut for the trainer at Doomben.
Matt Dunn has suddenly found himself with two live chances in Brisbane this weekend after picking up Yamazaki and Rocketing By from disqualified trainer David Pfieffer.
Pfieffer was earlier this week outed for nine months by Racing NSW stewards over the substitution of a urine sample dating back to 2019.
Both Yamazaki and Rocketing By had already been using Dunn's Murwillumbah stable as a base for their winter carnival campaigns in Queensland and the pair will race under his name from this weekend.
Yamazaki, a last-start winner of the Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast, lines up in the Group 3 Pam O'Neill Stakes (1600m) while the progressive Rocketing By contests the Darby McCarthy (1110m).
Despite being a backmarker, Yamazaki has a strong record at Doomben where she has raced seven times for two wins and two placings.
While she hasn't been acquired under ideal circumstances, Dunn said Pfieffer had done a terrific job preparing her and provided the track was racing fairly, he believed she was capable of performing well.
"As long as the track races true, that's all we need," Dunn said.
"David has done all the work up until three days before she goes to the races, but as far as I know she's in good shape.
"She's been at my place in Murwillumbah now for a few weeks and seems happy."
Hugh Bowman partners Yamazaki, while Rocketing By will also have a top rider in the saddle with James Mcdonald sticking with him after his last-start fifth in the Gold Coast Guineas.
The colt downed Prime Star and Ole Kirk to win the Inglis Sprint at Randwick in February and Dunn said he was an exciting pick-up for the stable.
"His racing pattern is usually to settle midfield or worse and rush late and there is a mile of speed in the race, so he'll get his chance," Dunn said.
"He's an exciting prospect. David has done a really good job with him to place him and nurture him through and I'm lucky enough to be stepping into him now."
