Brett Lunney is going the extra mile with stayer Hundred, as the Toowoomba trainer brings a runner to Sydney for the first time for eight years.
Lunney, who now trains in partnership with his son Thomas, last made the road trip in 2009 when he brought Hopeson to Warwick Farm.
Now another long distance specialist is heading south for Saturday’s Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick.
“Why has it taken so long to come back? We haven’t had a horse good enough,” Thomas Lunney said.
“We’ve finally got one that needs that sort of trip. The race is there for him and we think he’s a very good stayer.
“He’s a late foal. He’s always given us the impression he’ll be a four-year-old and he’s only just finally turned into a horse.”
The gelding has four wins from 17 starts and his fourth over 2200-metres at Doomben on December 2 convinced the training partnership to put its team of two on the float.
Thomas Lunney, who gained his training licence earlier this year, said they had wanted the four-year-old to step up to 2400m but there were no options locally.
“There are no races long enough for him in Queensland. He’s been in pretty good form this prep even though they probably don’t think he’s good enough,” he said.
Hundred was the $51 outsider on Thursday in the field of seven while travelling companion Royal Myth was also a long shot at $34 in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1100m).
The three-year-old filly will have her first start for the Lunneys after they opted to keep Hundred and Royal Myth together.
“There’s probably races in Queensland that’d suit her but we’d rather have the whole team in one spot so we can look after them,” Thomas Lunney said.
“The bookies have her as the long shot but she’s unbeaten over the trip and working well.”
