Aaron Dunn says his star colt Bondi Lockdown is very forward ahead of a highly-anticipated return to racing across the border in South Australia this weekend.
The Horsham trainer-driver landed rare Group 1 glory with the son of Somebeachsomewhere back in January, and will kick-start his preparation in the SA Botra South Australian Pacing Derby at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night.
Dunn said he is using the $30,000 Group 3 as a lead-up to the Australian Pacing Gold series, which begins with heats in May.
“He’s probably a bit more forward than I would have liked and he probably works himself a bit too hard at times,” he said.
“Even at the (Ararat) trial, and even though I sat back, we sprinted hard.
“He’s probably as fit as he could be.”
Bondi Lockdown, who has won three of his nine starts, has drawn in barrier seven this Saturday night and will have to take on a talented field of three-year-olds that includes Greg Norman-trained pair Aladdin and Apieceoflou, Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith’s duo Radar Stride and Platinum Stride and Geoff Webster’s charge Tuppence.
Aladdin could barely have been more impressive in his Australian debut last weekend with a dashing win in the Mildura Guineas, and is likely to start a warm favourite from barrier two.
Dunn is expecting the Norman runners to be hard to beat.
“It would be nice to actually sit behind a helmet for a bit because he does settle a bit better then, but I can see I may have to slide forward and probably end up sitting outside them,” Dunn said.
“Aladdin did go good and Apieceoflou is likely to probably go forward maybe earlier than him and cross. I can just imagine Aladdin going to the front after that.”
Dunn is one of many Victoria-based trainers heading across to South Australia for the feature meeting, with the Derby providing a major highlight to the night’s card alongside the $30,000 SA Trotters Cup and $60,000 SA Pacing Cup. Andy Gath (Justamollyarcher), Jason McNaulty (Travel Bug), Brent Lilley (Stress Factor, Sicario), Michael Hughes (Just Believe), Ray Harvey (The Penny Drops), Geoff Webster (Majestic Cruiser), Anthony Butt/Sonya Smith (Boots Electric, Perfect Stride), Scott Ewen (Bulletproof Boy) and Matthew Craven (Shadow Sax) are those with runners in the Cup features.
Many Victorian-based drivers are also heading across for the nine-race card, which kicks off from 6.23pm on Saturday night.
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