Londehero bonds with trackwork rider

Enigmatic Londehero’s bond with his regular trackwork rider has been the catalyst for him finally living up to his potential.

Londehero will be aiming for his fourth win from his past five starts in the Open Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn has always had a high opinion of Londehero who developed a reputation as a horse who would flash home without winning.

After showing potential as a younger horse Londehero seemed to lose his way after being well beaten on a wet track in the Gosford Guineas on his first trip south.

However, since Londehero won on Ipswich Cup day in June he has been a new horse.

“Once he probably only had a 100 metre sprint but now he is really hitting the line in the final 200. I think a lot of it can be put down to his trackwork rider Emily May,” Dunn said.

“She rides him all of his work and they get on really well and he seems to be happier and it is showing on the track.”

Dunn said the booking of former South African jockey Robbie Fradd in races had also been a benefit.

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“Robbie seems to really suit him as he has a different style of riding to most of our jockeys. He has had five rides on Londehero for three wins a second and an unlucky fifth,” Dunn said.

“But Robbie is suspended at the moment so I suppose we will find out exactly how much influence he has on Saturday.”

Dunn has booked premier jockey Jeff Lloyd for Londehero and the pair combined to win with Delightful Feeling at Doomben on Wednesday.

“Jeff should suit him and you just have to get his run timed right. At least Londehero has won on the new Eagle Farm surface so we know he will handle it,” Dunn said.

Barrier eight is of no concern to Dunn who believes Londehero needs plenty of room in his races.

If Londehero runs well on Saturday he could well find himself contesting races in Sydney where he raced well without winning earlier in the year.

“There isn’t much for him here at the moment and he has raced well in Sydney on previous occasions,” Dunn said.

“The races down there are worth $100,000 even in the off season so it certainly is an option.”