While his father will be in Sydney for Group One racing at Rosehill, in-form apprentice Dylan Dunn will chase his first stakes win in the Easter Cup at Caulfield.
The 21-year-old apprentice has been called on by Hawkes Racing to ride Leebaz in Saturday’s Group Three Easter Cup and is thrilled to get the opportunity for the high-profile stable in a non-claiming race.
Leebaz
“I guess having quite a purple patch in the past month, I’m just trying to make the most of my opportunities,” Dunn said.
“Win, lose or draw, it’s a big motivational kick for me just to be even offered a ride from them in the Easter Cup because obviously they feel I’m riding well enough to steer their horse without a claim.
“And it’s given me a lot of hope for my other rides too.
“It’s the first time I’ve had seven rides probably at any meeting, let alone a Saturday, so that gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”
Dylan’s father Dwayne is the regular rider in Melbourne for the Hawkes stable. His rides in Sydney on Saturday include Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes.
Two of Dylan Dunn’s rides on Saturday will be for the Hawkes stable.
“Leebaz is quite an honest horse and if he gets a good run in transit he should be right there at the finish,” he said.
Dunn had his first ride in a Group Two race last Friday night when the David Brideoake-trained Hardern finished third in the Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Hardern is among the apprentice’s rides again on Saturday.
Dunn has ridden 18 city winners in Melbourne this season and last Monday week landed his first metropolitan treble at Moonee Valley.
