Racing: Dunn ready to recapture top NZ form

Dexter Dunn is particularly looking forward to being reunited with his favourite horse, Smiling Shard. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Any concerns Dexter Dunn might have got a big head after starring on harness racing's biggest stage vanish when you sneak a look at his itinerary for this week.

Because racing's golden boy was intending on flying halfway around the world, from New York to Christchurch and then heading to the lowly Forbury Park meeting in Dunedin hours later to resume his New Zealand career.

Dunn has been spared that travel torture, with the Forbury meeting being abandoned because of a lack of numbers.

But the fact Dunn was even willing to book such a trip, on his 22nd birthday, confirms his dedication to winning another premiership.

Dunn returns home after nearly three months in the United States, during which time he drove 10 winners and finished fourth in the World Driver's Championships.

But with The Meadowlands, where he did most of his driving, taking a break from racing, Dunn says the time is right to come home.

"I have loved it up here but I am looking forward to getting back," he told the Herald from New Jersey.

That is, of course, if Dunn's flight was able to leave as he spent Monday battered down because of Hurricane Irene.

"It headed straight for us and the house I was staying at had a huge tree in the front yard which got split in half," said Dunn, his pulse rising about normal for a rare moment.

On the track his trip has been far smoother and looks a stepping stone to a potential career in North America.

"I'd love to come back here because I really enjoy it but I think if I do next year I'll need to come back a month earlier to drive more horses in their qualifiers as they get ready for racing.

"You need to do that to get on the better horses."

Dunn will return to working for former boss Cran Dalgety in the mornings but his main job will be as a freelance reinsman, these days in the open ranks as he has graduated from junior driver status. And he doesn't hesitate in naming the horse he is looking forward to getting behind most.

"I am really looking forward to driving Smiling Shard again," he said.

"Cran tells me he has grown taller, which is a good thing because he was a bit small for an open-class horse.

"And he has strengthened up. Hopefully, he can have a good season because I can't see why he can't pick up a big race this season."

Dunn says while he will follow the big money at the best meetings around Australasia when he can, he is still just as enthusiastic about clocking up the winners as he did a record 220 times last season. "I love driving and driving winners so I will still be going to a lot of meetings - it will be back to business as usual."

Just not at Forbury Park on Thursday. Thankfully.