Matt Dunn back in Highway Handicap mode

Tristan De Angel has put Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn back on the Highway Handicap winners’ list and fuelled ambitions for the Country Championship.

The gelding’s win in Saturday’s 1400m race stopped a run of Canberra winners since the ACT trainers returned to the country racing fold.

Dunn said he had high hopes for Tristan De Angel after his strong third at Ipswich last week.

“His run the other day was good and he ran well at Ipswich,” Dunn said.

“He gets through all conditions so I didn’t think the heavy track would worry him.

“He is a horse we would think about for next year’s Country Championship.

“He’s won three races now so we would have to manage his program to get him in.”

With Brenton Avdulla aboard, Tristan De Angel ($8.50) beat Lawan ($12) by three-quarters of a length with Manangatang ($16) a nose third.

Dunn sent out three runners for mixed results with Saxton Rock a solid fifth but Mediterranean is now barred from racing in Australia after bleeding for the second time.