3 minute read
Flying galloper Goomeri ($5.50 on TAB) named after a Darling Downs wine region and if there’s celebratory toasts following Saturday’s Rosehill Gardens TAB Highway, it will rank as one of Matthew Dunn’s finest series achievements returning after a two-year absence.
A Highway original, Matthew Dunn has trained near 30 series winners from Murwillumbah and Goomeri, a dual-winning three-year-old gelding bred by Gerry Harvey, concedes age and experience to rivals and has drawn barrier 16.
Goomeri will also carry 1kg over for Nash Rawiller (57.5kg) and is up in grade into a capacity $120,000 Class 3, 1200m.
But the positives are the upside of scintillating wins by a total of seven plus lengths on the northern rivers with more weight in smart time.
Throw in Dunn's phenomenal Highway record before he took out a city training licence to operate from Warwick Farm which made him ineligible.
However, after two years Dunn closed down his stables there for economic reasons.
And training out of Murwillumbah in northern NSW, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast meets, Dunn's 75 winners this season has been among the best for Matthew and his wife Keira.
"He's a really progressive three-year-old, has the gate speed to get across and the manner he's been winning has been excellent - and the times have been there," offered Dunn who won't be at Rosehill.
His focus will the high-profile Ipswich Cup meet on Saturday where he has his Group-winning sprinter Cepheus in the Listed-Eye Liner Stakes among numerous other runners.
Goomeri though is firm in the market on potential.
"In his maiden win at Port (Macquarie) he ran faster time than a higher grade and took the next step just as impressively at home."
Dunn was upbeat securing the talents of Rawiller and the kilo over is of no concern as Goomeri carried 58kg and 59kg for his double with Dunn's regular ally Ben Looker.
Also, Goomeri jumped from a maiden to a Class 2 winning at Murwillumbah, always a task, but again was super impressive with both on rain-affected tracks.
After early Highway wins Dunn emphasised how the series has risen in status: "Winning a Highway brings more focus and publicity than winning a Brisbane treble."
On Saturday, the usual accomplished contenders oppose Dunn with far more in their favour.
Paul Messara with a super series record of late will be hardest to beat with Unravel ($3.80 favourite) off impressive benchmark wins at Newcastle and Scone and an ideal barrier four.
As will Matthew Dale, also with 20 plus Highway wins and Acappella Sun ($6) in the finish of the past two "Gardens" episodes, with barrier one and the vital 3kg claim for multiple series winner Amy McLucas.
At present Rosehill Gardens is a Good 4 in fine weather.
