Dunn Hopes His Tiny 'car' With A Big Engine Will Bring A Change Of Luck

The Age

Wednesday October 15, 2008

Andrew Eddy

THOUSAND Guineas favourite Romneya helped Dwayne Dunn forge a partnership with leading trainer Lee Freedman and the jockey predicted yesterday that the tiny filly was on target to deliver the first group 1 success for the team in the $500,000 classic today.

Dunn said he did not think much of the filly, who stands about 14.2 hands, when he first laid eyes on her, but a win on her in listed company in Adelaide in June came at just the right time.

"I ran into her in Adelaide and this was probably the first horse I had ridden before I finished (negotiating) the contract with Lee," Dunn said. "I rang him that night and said my feet were dragging on the ground when I rode her she was that small. We were in negotiations at the time and that was a listed race and I needed to get it right.

"Though it didn't look that big a day and that big a race for a lot of people, for me it was quite a big event."

Just days later, Dunn signed on as No.1 rider for the Freedman empire and now Dunn is hoping that Romneya can now help him take another step in the relationship with Freedman by taking out the Guineas after four luckless runs this spring.

"We call her our little formula one car because she's low to the ground but got a big engine," Dunn said. "She's only small but she's got a big heart. She is probably about as small as I've ridden that's been able to get through to a group 1 race."

Romneya had a setback before her latest run when she missed a place for the first time in seven starts, finishing fourth in the Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington two weeks ago. "She had a little ulcer come up on her larynx. She was treated and got over it and now she's really well," Dunn said.

"I galloped her at Markdel this morning and she gave me a very good feel. I also rode (fellow Thousand Guineas candidates) Dan Baroness and Fly Higher and I'd rate Romneya on top, then Dan Baroness and Fly Higher.

"Fly Higher is looking for more of the Oaks distance while Dan Baroness probably struggles at the mile, but if she gets the right run, she'll be very hard to beat.

"Hopefully we can go on from here to the Wakeful (Stakes) and then onto the Oaks with Romneya.

"This is the first time this prep that she's got a barrier (one) that will suit her, so she should take up a beautiful spot behind the leaders."

Romneya is owned by Sheikh Mohammed and the Dunn-Freedman combination failed by only one to deliver the sheikh last Saturday's Caulfield Guineas when $2million yearling Time Thief ran second to Whobegotyou.

The sheikh's Australian breeding operation, Darley Australia, purchased Romneya's dam, Mannington, in 2005 for $2.05million.

Freedman's major rival David Hayes, who won the Thousand Guineas two years ago with Miss Finland, yesterday said he believed today's Guineas had any number of chances. Hayes will have three runners and rated Arms Wide Open as his main hope ahead of Taameer and Oval Affair.

© 2008 The Age

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