Dunn five clear in Melbourne premiership
Dwayne Dunn heads into the final month of the season with a five-win lead in pursuit of his first Melbourne jockeys’ premiership.
A winner to Craig Williams on Dulverton on Wednesday at Sandown drew him to within three of Dunn in the title race but Dunn hit back with wins on So Does He and Bonnie Belle to extend his lead.
Dunn has now ridden 61 city winners in Victoria for the season which is a season-best for the 43-year-old.
He rode 57 winners last year when a close third in the Melbourne premiership behind Damien Oliver and Williams.
“This is a PB,” Dunn said.
“Everyone is talking about premierships and all that, but I’ve just set goals.
“I’m not getting any younger and things are going as good they could ever go. So to ride this many winners for a season is outstanding for me.”
Meanwhile, Michael Dee has pegged another winner back on Dylan Dunn in the race for Melbourne apprentices’ premiership.
Dee followed up his winning treble at Flemington on Saturday with a hard-fought win on the Patrick Payne-trained stayer Sir Lopez over 2400m on Wednesday.
Sir Lopez defeated King Way by a short half head to move Dee to within two wins of Dylan Dunn, son of Dwayne Dunn, in the apprentices’ standings.
And Dee drew praise from Sir Lopez’s trainer, himself a former top jockey.
“He’s a very effective rider,” Payne said.
“He’s a pretty complete package. He gets them to settle but he’s effective in the finish.”
There are nine metropolitan meetings left in the final month of the season.