Dwayne Dunn who partnered Lord of the Sky into fourth position as $1.40 favourite in last week’s Bletchingly Stakes, guided the Shawn Mathrick-trained Our Nkwazi to a blowout win in the $80,000 United Refrigeration Handicap (1000m).
Dunn was happy to bounce back in the event that Lord of the Sky, who was ridden by apprentice Kayla Nisbet with connections eager to claim, could manage only fourth placing.
“It’s always a big pleasure to come back and ride a winner,” Dunn said.
Dunn and Our Nkwazi overcame a wide trip to score a narrow-but-impressive win.
Despite being at least three-wide for the entire trip, the eight-year-old son of Arazi was able to launch a strong run down the centre of the Valley track to get home in the last stride.
A $31 chance, he scored by a head from the heavily-backed Solsay ($5 to $3.90), who saved ground towards the inside rounding the bend, with African Pulse running an improved race to finish just a short-heead back third.
Lord of the Sky ($1.50 to $1.90), who initially had to be hunted along to retain the lead after only beginning fairly, turned more than a length in front but had been reeled in by the 50m mark and finished fourth, beaten just under two lengths.
“They didn’t feel like they really scooted, Lord of the Sky looked like he didn’t step as well as what he has been and they were happy to let him lead without bustling,” Dunn said.
“Once we started to join the course proper then they really ripped and he (Lord of the Sky) seemed to really handle that bend badly and get up the track – usually he wants to hang in and go the other way – but that gave me a really good chance when I was turning in because I was pretty close to them.”
Photo Courtesy: RacePix