Trainer Matt Dunn is hoping his change of luck with barriers can translate into stakes winners at Doomben.
Dunn has had a bad run with barriers culminating in his stable star Care To Think drawing 12 in last Saturday’s Group One Doomben 10,000.
Care To Think was trapped deep the whole way but finished sixth to keep his high rating for next month’s Group One Stradbroke Handicap.
Dunn’s luck has changed with several of his horses getting good barriers in stakes races on Saturday.
“That is the way things go in racing. Barriers are so important especially at Doomben,” Dunn said.
“But it is no use whingeing and you have to make the most of it when you do get good barriers.”
The stable’s two-year-old fillies Dram Of Delago (5) and Axella (2) run in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1200m).
“Dram Of Delago was second to Sunlight in the lead-up to that filly’s Magic Millions win in the summer,” Dunn said.
“She was good second-up at the Gold Coast last time when fifth in the Ken Russell Classic. She was the first filly over the line there.”
“If we can get her prize money up we will look at the better two-year-old races for her.”
Dunn said Axella was a much better filly than her last start 12th in the Ken Russell Classic.
“I am at loss to explain the run. She had trialled well beforehand but she just couldn’t get going. Maybe the track was too hard.”
Dunn also has Don’tbabylon who has drawn barrier one in the Listed Bright Shadow Stakes (1200m).
“She was a stakes winner last campaign and she has won first-up but she is meeting a smart field,” Dunn said.
“A race like the Gai Waterhouse at Ipswich next month is her likely goal.”
