A burst of acceleration Dwayne Dunn first doubted was there in the Ranvet Stakes has boosted the jockey’s confidence about Maluckyday in the Group One BMW.
Maluckyday was at the tail of the field and Dunn feared he was going to run last approaching the turn in the Ranvet two weeks ago, but the stayer picked up and charged to the line for third in an eye-catching pointer to Saturday’s 2400m contest at Rosehill.
Maluckyday - Photo by Steve Hart
The 2010 Melbourne Cup runner-up is on the second line of betting for the BMW behind three-year-old Fiveandahalfstar who is an easing favourite.
Maluckyday, a son of Zabeel, will have a significant gear change with winkers coming off and blinkers being applied for the first time.
“I would just like him to travel better through his races to give me a better opportunity to get him into the race without giving them too big a start,” Dunn said.
“I think we seen the other day the acceleration of the old Maluckyday.
“It was great to see it, we needed to see it, and the extra distance will really suit him.
“It looks like a nice race for him really.”
Maluckyday hasn’t won since the Lexus Stakes in 2010 but spent a year out after contracting pneumonia in the spring of 2011.
The BMW has been a special race to the Hawkes Racing Team, with trainer John Hawkes winning it five times.
The 2009 victory of Fiumicino brought up the first Group One for the partnership of John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes.
They also have Niwot in Saturday’s event.
