THERE is a hint of pain in Aaron Dunn’s voice every time you talk to him about Bondi Lockdown.

Deep down he is sure he has done the right thing by sending his “champ” Bondi Lockdown to Team McCarthy, but it still hurts.

And there’s barely a trip to the races where Dunn doesn't have a fellow trainer, driver or owner query why he did it.

Everything changed for Dunn and Bondi Lockdown on the first Saturday night in October last year. That’s the night Bondi Lockdown finished 10th in the Smoken Up Sprint at Melton and was subsequently found to have had a small bleed.

It was the ultimate low-point of a frustrating and disappointing eight months with the gifted pacer.

When Bondi Lockdown produced a Herculean effort to run second to Better Eclipse in the Chariots Of Fire this time last year, he was the hottest property in the sport.

King Of Swing was about to retire and most already had Bondi Lockdown inked-down as his successor.

Four subsequent runs for just one third placing wasn’t what anybody expected.

“I did find the pressure of training the next big thing a lot, especially when things weren’t going right,” Dunn said.

“But it was the bleed that changed everything. I’d never have let him go had that not happened.”

In the wake of the bleed, Dunn was agitated and uncertain. A calming phone call from Luke McCarthy telling him not to panic really hit home.

“Luke wasn’t asking for the horse. He was just telling me horses can overcome the setback he had and go onto big things. I needed to hear that,” Dunn said.

“Things happened quickly after that. I just didn’t think I could do the horse justice and give him every chance after that. I’d never really had a bleeder.

“I own him outright and I’d decided within days I’d send him to Luke and Belinda to give him every chance.

“That drive to Melton a week later for Victoria Cup night was so hard, very upsetting. I’m lucky in some ways that I was busy with two runners that night and Luke had loaded him up and taken him away before I finished.

“I couldn’t really talk to anyone that night. He was more than a horse to me. I’d done everything with him since day one.

“It was very emotional and even now, I find it hard that I can’t just walk outside and see him every day.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve done in racing, but I’m sure it’s best for the horse. In some ways it’s a business decision, too. If he can go on and win a Miracle Mile, he’s a stallion and he can stand at stud.

“I have so many people coming up and asking how or why I sent him to Luke and Belinda and I know I’ll never get another one like him, no matter how hard I try.

“But at least I can say I won three Group 1 races with him and hopefully he can reach the heights he deserves and I know is capable of with Luke and Belinda.”

Those emotions were stirred when Bondi Lockdown had his first run for Team McCarthy and roared home from last for second at Menangle on January 28.

“I was at the Lake Bolac pub and thought they’d have Sky, but they didn’t. So, I watched out in the car park on my phone with about eight blokes standing behind and cheering. He didn’t win, but almost felt as good as a win so see him go so well,” Dunn said.

Bondi Lockdown's second run for Team McCarthy came when he stormed home from a long way back to snatch a narrow but impressive 1min50.5sec Menangle win last Saturday night.

Bondi Lockdown was to back up in Friday night's Newcastle Mile, but Team McCarthy changed plans and he will wait another week for the qualifying sprints at Menangle.

"I spoke with Luke and he said it suits better to wait another week and he also said the horse seems to be loving the big Menangle track, so he's keen to keep racing there," Dunn said.

“I’ll go up for the sprints. A mate wants to come with me and we'll probably stick around to see the horse at Luke and Belinda's the next day, too.

“Hopefully we’ll be booking flights to head back up for the Miracle Mile.”

Handing over Bondi Lockdown certainly hasn’t dampened Dunn’s passion for the sport.

He’s deep into an extravagant and expensive rebuild of his training track and added a horse walker to his stables just outside of Horsham.

“It’ll be magic when it’s done. I own 36 horses now all-up, that includes broodmares, foals, etc. I’ll also look to buy a couple of nicely bred fillies at the sales coming up to race and breed from. I think we bred from 10 mares this season,” he said.

As much as Dunn insists he will never find another Bondi Lockdown, he’s certainly given himself every chance to do just that.

But for now, he will be watching on with hope and some mixed emotions as Bondi Lockdown chases Grand Circuit glory in the Miracle Mile and beyond.

Pictures by Stuart McCormick and Club Menangle

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.