The opportunity to train a horse like European import Cepheus is one of the reasons Matt Dunn decided to set up a permanent stable in Sydney.
Dunn made the tough call to forgo his country status and establish a base in the city just over a year ago and he is starting to make some significant inroads.
French stakes winner Cepheus recently joined Dunn’s team, the five-year-old the latest staying acquisition by Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing.
Dunn has trained a number of horses for OTI but Cepheus is the first one he has been entrusted with straight off the plane from Europe.
“I’ve had quite a few hand-me-downs from other trainers in Melbourne and Sydney, but this is the first one that was picked out to come to our stable,” Dunn said.
“I’m sure Terry Henderson has held back sending us one until we set the Sydney stable up because it’s hard to say to people, ‘we’re going to buy this horse for a lot of money from Europe and it’s going to be trained at a country track’.
“As good a job as we could do from there (Murwillumbah), it’s not the same as being on a Sydney track and it’s not as marketable.
“We’re getting enquiries now from people we don’t know and getting more Sydney-based clients and that was the goal, that was why we came here and forewent the country races.”
Cepheus will kick off his Australian chapter in The Agency Spring Preview (1400m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday and while he is a winner up to 2500m, his work and trials have been sharp.
The horse’s ultimate goal will be the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, if not this season, then next.
But based on what he’s seen at home, and how well Cepheus has adjusted to his new environment, Dunn won’t be surprised to see him sprint well fresh.
“He’s got really good acceleration and if you didn’t know his background, the way he quickens you’d think he’s a 1400 metre horse or miler,” Dunn said.
“But he’s achieved good results over further overseas, so I suppose we will take that into account. He’s an exciting horse and I like him a lot.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au