Dunn to send biggest contingent to Sydney

As he prepares to send his biggest contingent to Sydney, Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn believes he has the right formula to get horses to overcome the 10-hour float trip.

Dunn will send four horses to Rosehill for Saturday’s meeting from his Northern Rivers stable.

The trainer has targeted Brisbane metropolitan meetings with success with Dunn finishing third in the premiership last year.

But back-to-back Highway wins with Quatronic and Hanwritten convinced the trainer he had worked out how to get the best out of horses after the long trip from the NSW-Queensland border to Sydney.

“It’s a good time of year to stick your toe in the water in Sydney,” Dunn told AAP.

“With prize money reductions in Queensland and increases in Sydney it’s worth a try.”

Dunn, who has been training since January 2011, believes he has nailed the best way to travel.

Horses are sent down on Wednesday night and arrive at Rosehill at about 3.30am on Thursday for a Saturday race.

That gives them time to relax and acclimatise, Dunn said.

“It’s the biggest team we’ve sent, but I don’t think they’re horses that are just making the numbers up,” he said.

“I think they’re all proper competitive horses in their right races.”

Dunn rates Legendary Luke, who is set to race in the AMWU Handicap 1500m, as his best chance for the day.

“His work on Tuesday was probably the best I’ve ever seen him go,” Dunn said.

He said Legendary Luke had been unlucky in his recent starts and hoped he could settle behind the speed.

Flitero is his runner in the Country Classic over 2000m, a distance his trainer believes will bring out the best in him.

“He’s done a lot of work and he’s had a jump-out here to tick him over,” he said.

Perfect Dare was third behind Counterattack and Takedown in the Group Three Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben in May.

While that form reads impressively for the Viridian Lightbridge Handicap (1100m), Dunn said the horse may need the run.

“He’s Group placed and I think he’s a little bit better now than he was last preparation,” Dunn said

“I tried stretching his distance out last preparation and he’s a sprinter.”

Delightful Feeling will have to overcome top weight to give Dunn his third Highway win.