Racing: Dexter Dunn detour could delay glory

My Field Marshall, driven by Anthony Butt, stuns the crowd by winning the A$100,000 Len Smith Mile at Menangle against formidable rivals last month.

Dexter Dunn may be in the fast lane to a national record that may never be broken but he will take a slight detour this weekend.

After a hectic last fortnight the superstar of the sulky finds himself on 217 wins for the season heading into tomorrow night's meeting at Forbury Park.

With Addington the next night, Dunn could break his own New Zealand record for wins in a season by a horseperson of either code, which sits at 220, before the weekend.

If Dunn does get to the new mark of 221 that victory would also be his 2000th in New Zealand, making him only the fifth driver to reach that mark.

Dexter Dunn (right). Photo / Stuart McCormick

But if Dunn - who has driven 17 winners in just over a fortnight - doesn't crack the 220 by Saturday he could have to wait another five days as he is set to miss Sunday's Rangiora meeting.

He has been called up to drive Kiwi pacer My Field Marshal in the Sunshine Sprint in Brisbane on Saturday night, taking on the likes of Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay.

My Field Marshal was driven to his last-start Len Smith Mile win by Anthony Butt, the brother of the five-year-old's trainer Tim, but Anthony has commitments in Victoria this Saturday with that state's Sires' Stakes Finals on at Melton.

So Dunn, who partnered My Field Marshal to win the Taylor Mile, Messenger and Jewels last season, will make the trip, meaning he won't be back in time to drive at most of the Rangiora meeting on Sunday.

"I land back in Christchurch around 3pm so if I had a couple of really good drives late in the meeting at Rangiora I still might pop out," Dunn said.

"But in reality I can probably afford to miss that meeting and still be on track for the record.

"The way things are going I might even have the new record before I go but with only four wins to go it looks likely I'll get there one way or the other."

Missing one meeting will only delay the inevitable as at his current strike rate Dunn could extend the all-time New Zealand record to 230 or 235 by the time he leaves for North America to defend his World Drivers Champs title, missing the last weekend of the season.

"I'd like to think 230 is on the cards, maybe even a few more. I think the best of them at Forbury Park on Thursday would be Some Legend, who should win."

He won't be the only big name Kiwi at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday night, with Blair Orange, who sits second on the premiership and within 19 wins of becoming only the second New Zealand driver to rein 200 wins in a season, also driving there.

Orange will partner Delightful Memphis in the Queensland Oaks, where she takes on Partyon, who returned to her best form by staying unbeaten in Australia with an easy win in similar company last Saturday.

And Partyon's stablemate More The Better was also a ruthless winner last Saturday, suggesting he is in for a profitable winter while stablemates Ultimate Machete and Vincent rest up.

Meanwhile, the encouraging news around stake increases continues, with Cambridge announcing new levels for next season. Maiden races at the Waikato track will rise to $7655 while all races for those assessed above maidens, with the exception of amateur and claiming races, will have a minimum of $8000.

"R61-70 races will be for $8500 and anything above R71 will be worth $9000," club president Rob Lawson said.

The increases come a week after giant increases announced for Alexandra Park meetings and continued rises in New Zealand thoroughbred stakes.

Four to go

• Dexter Dunn sits on 217 wins for the season - chasing his own NZ record of 220.

• He could set the new record, which would also double as his 2000th career NZ win, this week.

• Dunn will miss most, or all, of Sunday's Rangiora meeting as he returns from driving My Field Marshall in Brisbane.