Melbourne based jockey Dwayne Dunn is hoping for a successful reunion when he re-unites with Booker in the 2019 Group 1 $750,000 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Jockey Dwayne Dunn will re-unite with Booker, above, in the 2019 The Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Dunn is a two times winner on Booker but hasn’t ridden the Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained mare since finishing fourth on her in Group 2 $600,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Lightweight jockey Dean Yendall took over the reins when Booker, weighted with only 52kg, worked home from back in the field to win the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 23.
Yendall was on board again when Booker finished just better that midfield when ninth in the Group 1 $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9.
Dunn admits that he will need plenty of luck on Booker from barrier fifteen in the sixteen horse Goodwood field but has the advantage of keeping the favourite Spright, with Damien Oliver aboard, in his sights after she draw the extreme outside gate.
“The draw is not ideal but in saying that they’ve had a lot of racing there and they should be getting to the middle of the track,” Dunn told AAP.
“Damien Oliver on Spright will be with me somewhere, whether he’s in front of me, beside me or behind me, but we’re both live chances if we get the right runs.
“Group One races aren’t easy to win but it’s probably not as strong a race as we’ve seen in previous years.
“One thing in my advantage is I know Booker really well.
“I know her ability and I know how she can race.”
Booker is marked at $9.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au while the Garry Frazer trained Spright is the $3.80 favourite for The Goodwood.
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