Racing: Dunn forgoes championship for feature plums

Champion driver Dexter Dunn has been granted a rare exemption from the Australasian junior drivers' championships to be at Alexandra Park tonight and his boss is confident he can make it worth his while.

Dunn has been competing in the transtasman series in New South Wales this week, but will miss today's heat so he can return to drive on the first night of Auckland Cup Week.

"He went about it the right way, applying to Harness Racing New Zealand then asking the authorities in Sydney and they found an exceptional circumstances clause in the rules," said Dunn's boss Cran Dalgety.

"He didn't want to miss a heat of the series because all the young guys love driving in it. But I suppose not many of them also have top-class drives at premier meetings to worry about as well."

Dunn will partner Bettor's Strike in the $50,000 NZ Herald Free-For-All, Matt Maguire in the $40,000 Sales Series Graduate and Hip Hop Anvil and Feels Like Magic in the Woodlands Derby preludes.

Bettor's Strike is using tonight's free-for-all as his final lead-up to next Friday's $500,000 Auckland Cup and Dalgety said he would need the race to top off his preparation.

"He had a few days off after the Hunter Cup but has had one trial since and I am happy with where he is," said Dalgety.

"But he still looks just a touch pretty to me. I think he will go a big one this week but might improve for the cup next week."

Dalgety is quietly confident with Matt Maguire, the troublesome juvenile who has drawn the ace in the PGG Wrightson Sales Pace.

He has looked enormously talented, winning on debut, before galloping in his next two starts, a habit which doesn't greatly instil confidence in punters, especially from barrier one where a horse can cop so much early mental pressure.

But Dalgety was thrilled with how Matt Maguire trialled at Alexandra Park last Saturday, beating highly talented race rival The Cotton Club.

"His manners have been a bit of a worry but we have changed some gear and I think he might be all right.

"He is definitely good enough to win because he has a huge motor." Dalgety said the Derby heats provided Feels Like Magic (race six) and Hip Hop Anvil (race eight) with big challenges.

"They have both got good draws but they are stepping well up in grade because these are very good horses.

"The aim is obviously to qualify for the final next week because it is $500,000 and with rivals like Russley Rascal and Sir Lincoln we will be driving them to qualify, rather than maybe trying to do anything too heroic.

"Sure, we would like to win but the first priority has to be to qualify."

Meanwhile, Dalgety says punters could do worse than save a dollar for stable runner A Legend in the first race of cup week.

"She raced well out of her grade last week and didn't do such a bad job, so we think she has a good chance."