The road from Murwillumbah to Sydney is getting easier every week for trainer Matt Dunn who has racked up his fifth win in a Highway race for country-trained horses.
The Dunn-trained Delightful Feeling claimed his second Highway win from his past two starts at Rosehill on Saturday, stepping up from 1300m to 1500m.
A regular visitor to Brisbane in recent years, Dunn has switched his focus to Sydney racing, lured by bigger prize money.
He joins Canberra trainer Matt Dale and the South Coast’s Terry Robinson as the most successful trainers in the Highway races with five apiece.
“This was a strong Highway race and Delightful Feeling has put three wins together now,” Dunn’s wife Kiera, who travelled with the horse said.
“He will go back to town, maybe to Eagle Farm again.”
Ridden by apprentice Nick Heywood whose 3kg claim brough him into the race with 56kg, Delightfui Feeling, the $3.40 favourite, came out of the back to stride clear late to beat The Nickster ($9.50) by 1-1/4 lengths.
Kiera Dunn said Delightful Feeling had had a secret weapon since his last visit to Sydney.
“We’ve got a few injured track riders at the moment so Matt has been back in the saddle riding him work,” she said.
“So he reckons it’a all down to him.
“He sent me a text saying ‘this one’s mine’.”