Dwayne Dunn is joining forces with one star of the Australian turf for the first time and reuniting with another in the two feature races on Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes day.
Dunn rides Contributer in Saturday’s Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley while he will be back aboard class sprinter Chautauqua when he resumes in the McEwen Stakes.
Chautauqua, Dwayne Dunn
“One has drawn ordinary and one has drawn well,” Dunn said.
Godolphin’s import Contributer is at $1.75 to make a winning return in the 1600m Group Two race and has barrier two in a field on 12.
TJ Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua has drawn gate 12 in a field of 15 for the the 1000m Group Two McEwen and is the $2.10 favourite.
Dunn jumped at the opportunity to ride Contributer first-up with Godolphin’s No.1 jockey James McDonald required in Sydney.
“You probably realise that you’re not going to ride him all the way through, but stranger things have happened when the grand finals turn up,” Dunn said.
Dunn offered to jump aboard Contributer in his familiarisation gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday but wasn’t required.
“I’ve seen enough of him racing and he doesn’t look like he has too many tricks so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue,” Dunn said.
“On what he’s shown so far it looks like it’s a race that he should be more than capable of winning.
“He’s drawn barrier two, it looks a nice gate. He should be hard to beat.”
Contributer’s opposition includes The Cleaner, Mourinho and Foreteller who filled the first three placings last year.
Chautauqua is entered to race at Moonee Valley for the first time and faces a big field but has class on his side.
Chautauqua was ridden by Tommy Berry in his two Sydney starts in autumn, and Dunn said it was great to get back on the sprinter.
While he hasn’t fully extended Chautauqua on the training track leading into Saturday he said the Group One winner looked well.
“To look at him, physically and mentally he looks a lot better and hopefully he can bring that to the races,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate he’s drawn a bit sticky but it probably might be better off drawing out there than barrier one.
