ALEX DUNN RACING WEEKLY REPORT (20th – 26th June)
Introduction
We did it! Back in March our progress was such that I believed we could match last year’s flat prizemoney in half the time this year, I am pleased to announce that this goal has been achieved courtesy of Sigrid Nansen’s emphatic win taking the yard over the line. At home the schooling ring is coming along nicely and I hope to have it finished by the open day, whilst not forgetting work on our new circular gallop has commenced.
Round Up of runners
Seven horses made it out this week, competing at five tracks, returning a win and a further two places.
Broke Away was the sole jumps runner of the week, yet none the less she still gave a good account of herself at Ffos Lass. It was a weird race given that four of the eight hurdles were omitted, however turning in the field was well bunched with all the front six holding chances two out. Broke Away looked as if she was going to make it through the pack, but she never quite did and came up 4 ¾ lengths short of the winner to finish fifth.
Rogue was our next runner of the week and represented something special for the yard. Rogue ran at Chantilly, yes Chantilly, and so was our first ever runner to compete in France. Rogue ran with credit jumping off to settle in just behind the leading bunch, turning in he was ridden to pick off the early leaders going head to head with the second without being able to trouble the leader. A third place on our first start in France was a great achievement and opens up further possibilities for horses come the future.
Tuesday was D-Day for the yard, with no less than four runners being sent out. Waqt went first at Beverley trying to defy his punishing eight pound handicap rise, courtesy of his Brighton win. We fitted him with a pair of cheekpieces for the first time and told Rossa to save as much ground as possible which he did and then to make headway in the later stages. Waqt did all this, but it just wasn’t quite enough and went head to head with the winner who was always just ½ a length up. However Waqt collected £1,377 for his efforts, leaving us just £1,700 short of last year’s £117,010.
Gendarme soon picked up the baton, alas though it was not to be. The ground which had a lot of cut in it suited Waqt, but not Gendarme and so he faded in the closing stages. However seventh still collected £300, meaning we were now just £1,400 short.
Que Brighton and both Sigrid Nansen and Punkawallah were due to run in a mile three affair at Brighton. They both jumped well with Sigrid settling more prominently than Punkawallah, yet turning in Hannah was so comfortable she was able to look around for the best path through. Sigrid soon obliged so much so that when Hannah looked up at the screen they were well clear of the field and so was eased down crossing the line. Sigrid won £2,995, taking us clear of last year’s total by over £1,000 pounds with a week to spare! This was a great achievement and hopefully Sigrid can follow up at Bath in a few days’ time.
With our goal achieved it meant that the pressure was off Ventura at Kempton. She finished ninth and it was disappointing so we will reassess for future plans.
Catch us if you can
As mentioned there was a certain £117,010 that we have been chasing down, and we did it with a week to spare. Last year we ran 197 runners to get to this total, accumulating 15 winners on an eight percent strike rate. The margin of achievement this year is such that with only 156 runners we have accumulated 16 winners on a ten percent strike rate, 41 fewer runners than last year.
In light of this, this progress has been achieved for multiple reasons with no single one eclipsing another. Our new facilities have obviously helped and good staff go a long way too. The target now is to chase down £200,000 on the flat and we currently stand at £118, 652.
Statistical Summary
Jumps 19/20
Earnings - £14,957
Wins - 2
Top 4 finishes – 10/21 (47.62%)
Flat 19
Earnings - £118,652
Wins – 16
Top 4 finishes –64/157 (40.76%)
Year 2019
Earnings - £159,830
Wins - 19
Top 4 finishes – 92/235 (39.15%)
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