Racing: Dunn delighted to still call New Zealand home

Photo / Thinkstock

Horses like Texican are going to keep New Zealand harness racing's most prized asset in this country a bit longer.

The 3-year-old won the $200,000 Sires' Stakes at Addington yesterday in the hands of wonder driver Dexter Dunn, downing Ideal Scott after a perfect Dunn drive.

It was his first group one win since returning from a successful North American trip over the winter, where he finished fourth in the World Drivers Championships.

That level of success coupled with amazing natural talent means Dunn could choose where in the world he wants to ply trade.

But he says New Zealand will remain home. "I can get drives in North America and the racing and lifestyle are great," said Dunn.

"But here in New Zealand and a little bit in Australia I get really good drives in a lot of the best races.

"That's what it is all about. I am a competitive person and I want to be driving at the highest level I can so I will be staying here for at least the next few years.

"I would like to think I will make it one day in the States but for now I might go up there for a month every year for a few years."

That is great news for the industry as Dunn is harness racing's pin-up boy and its most marketable human commodity.

He has some serious horsepower to help him fly that flag too, judging by Texican's win yesterday.

He gave his sire, Bettors Delight, back-to-back Sires' Stakes Final wins after Gold Ace last season when he worked mid-race, then still outfinished his rivals, including the disappointing favourite Chancellor Cullen.

Dunn was quick to compare Texican to his favourite drive Smiling Shard, who is already a $1 million-plus winner.

"They are different types of horses looks-wise but he is very tough like Smiling Shard.

"I can see him developing into a real Derby horse later in the season."

Texican is trained by Dunn's one-time boss Cran Dalgety and is owned by two of the biggest spending owners in racing, Jim and Susan Wakefield.

Yesterday's win was his fourth from just nine starts and continued the remarkable recent record of Sires' Stakes winner being rapid-improving 3-year-olds who weren't the best of their age at two.

Earlier in the day Smolda and another Dunn-driven 3-year-old in Raging Bull suggested they were as good as any of those who contested the Sires' Stakes when they quinellaed a graduation final.

That suggested the 3-year-old ranks, especially with last season's star two-year-old Fly Like An Eagle still sidelined, are open to a lot of change in the coming months.