Dylan Dunn to make G1 debut against father
Melbourne apprentice Dylan Dunn will head back to where it all began to make his Group One debut in Adelaide.
And his father will be among his rivals in South Australia’s feature sprint race, The Goodwood, at Morphettville on Saturday.
Dunn will ride Faatinah in Saturday’s race for his bosses David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, while his multiple Group One-winning father Dwayne will ride the Robert Smerdon-trained Under The Louvre.
“That will be pretty cool,” Dunn jnr said.
“I don’t think there’ll be too many father and son combinations in Group Ones.
“If we both perform well in the race it would be really fitting.
“I was thinking about it the other day, and I guess a Group One for us is like playing football in a premiership. And I don’t think there’s ever been a father and son play in a grand final. So that’s pretty cool.”
In Australian racing, Glyn and Chad Schofield are the most recent father and son duo to ride in the same Group One race.
The Group One ride is the next step in the career of 21-year-old Dunn who began his apprenticeship with Phillip Stokes in Adelaide after being knocked back by Racing Victoria.
After showing his capabilities in Adelaide, Dunn was accepted into Victoria’s apprentice program and returned to Melbourne where he has made inroads in the past year.
“I never expected my career to take so many leaps and bounds so quickly,” Dunn said.
“But I’ve been trying to work so hard for David and Tom and I guess this is a bit of a reward they’ve given me back.
“I think it’s really nice that they think enough of me to give me an opportunity like this.”
It is fitting that Dunn will make his Group One debut in South Australia.
“I did a year in Adelaide and then moved over to Melbourne,” he said.
“But it does mean a lot to me to actually be able to have that Group One ride in Adelaide.”
Dunn’s first stakes winner came on Leebaz for Hawkes Racing in this year’s Easter Cup at Caulfield and he scored a Group Three win for Hayes and Dabernig in Adelaide on Tris last month.
Faatinah is expected to be one of five runners for Hayes and Dabernig in The Goodwood and goes in off a last-start Euclase Stakes win.