Dwayne Dunn gets another opportunity to build on a premiership lead in Melbourne during a busy period.
Ahead of racing at Moonee Valley on Friday night and Flemington on Saturday, Dunn had a one-win lead over Damien Oliver in the jockey standings.
With Oliver suspended until after Boxing Day, Dunn has the chance to capitalise.
When Dunn rode Magnapal to victory at Sandown last month he held a four-win advantage over Oliver who whittled it back, while Craig Williams sits third in the standings less than halfway through the season.
“It would be nice to put it on the CV,” Dunn said of the Melbourne premiership.
“It’s not something I’m going to really concentrate that much on until we probably get later in the season. Near the end I’ll probably concentrate a bit more on it.”
Dunn, who claimed the inaugural Spring Racing Premiership for jockeys during the Melbourne spring carnival, has seven Flemington rides.
They include the Robert Smerdon-trained Ms Mazetti, favourite for the Beachside Handicap (1000m) and Godolphin three-year-old Inkulu, trained by Lee and Anthony Freedman.
Inkulu, a winner at Sale earlier this month, lines up in the Primacy Handicap (1420m).
“He’s a nice horse and I think they’ve probably brought him back in a little bit earlier to try to win a race or two and get confidence before the serious races come about,” Dunn said.
Magnapal is backing-up in the Bitalli Handicap (2540m) after his fourth at Flemington last Saturday over 2000m while well-travelled gelding Agent takes aim in the Red Tempo Handicap (1000m) having raced twice in Sydney and once in Brisbane so far this campaign.
Dunn’s only ride on the Hawkes-trained seven-year-old Agent resulted in fifth in the Listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone in May.
The jockey rides regularly for the Hawkes Racing team and admits they will play a major role if he is to challenge for the premiership.
“I’ve sort of aligned myself there and I expect them to produce some nice horses,” Dunn said.
“They’ve spent big money at the yearling sales and I expect their horses to stand up, especially as they get older.
