Racing: Dunn smashes McKendry's 1989 driving record

Wonder horseman Dexter Dunn says smashing the national record for wins in a season yesterday wasn't exciting.

"It was humbling," said Dunn, the son of Canterbury trainer Robert, who enjoyed much success with Master Musician.

Dunn continued his remarkable rise from obscurity two years ago by breaking Maurice McKendry's record for wins in a season at Ashburton yesterday.

McKendry's mark of 161 wins had stood since 1989, the year Dunn was born, with the Canterbury driving sensation equalling it on Saturday.

He set the new mark when Band On The Run won yesterday before he reined two more winners, leaving the record at 164 with the likelihood it will be stretched well into the 180s by the time the season ends on July 31.

"It is kind of unbelievable to have the record, especially at my age," said Dunn.

"And it is kind of humbling because Maurice was a legend when I was a kid. He still is. For him to set that sort of record 20 years ago when there was less racing than there is now was awesome and I feel lucky to break it."

Dunn cut his teeth driving in Australia for a season before returning home two years ago.

His goal was to drive 20 winners last season but he stunned the racing world by winning the premiership with 146 wins.

Now he is almost too blown away by his own success to think about it.

"It is hard to believe I have done this, that the record is mine," said Dunn.

"But now I have got two months to drive as many winners as I can to set the bar pretty high."

Dunn said he was thrilled the record-setting win came behind a horse trained by his boss, Cran Dalgety.

"Cran has been such a big part of my career since I came home and I wouldn't be where I was without him."

Dunn's record has come through 1063 drives, which is 365 more than our second busiest driver, fellow Canterbury horseman Mark Jones.

But the modest reinsman has also chalked up 222 placings and over $1.7 million in stakes, his money tally the fourth highest in the premiership.