Racing: Remarkable Dunn strikes again with Victoria Cup success

Wonder reinsman Dexter Dunn sees the irony in his greatest career victory with Bettor's Strike in the A$400,000 Victoria Cup.

Because while the 20-year-old is being lauded for the latest remarkable step in his career, Dunn says a chimp would have driven Bettor's Strike to his narrow victory over Smoken Up.

Friday night's group one at Melton set up perfectly for Bettor's Strike, as he drew on the back of Smoken Up, who led and set a track record pace.

To make life even easier, Smoken Up veered off the track slightly at the top of the straight, meaning Dunn didn't have to wait until the short passing lane to get momentum up.

"It is my biggest thrill in racing but to be honest I didn't do much," said Dunn.

"He pulled a little bit early then settled down and from my point of view there wasn't a lot of thinking involved.

"I knew at the 100m I had Smoken Up but I also knew he would fight back but it was a real thrill to win this one.

"I've been lucky enough to get a Harness Jewels and a Breeders Crown but the Victoria Cup is bigger than that, they only run one of these a year."

Bettor's Strike's improvement from a 15-start maiden two years ago to Grand Circuit star has been remarkable, none more so than the past three months of it.

He was struggling in the intermediate grades in September until Canterbury trainer Cran Dalgety radically changed the 5-year-old's regime.

"Cran started doing a lot less fast work with him and more long, slow work and some cantering.

"I reckon he has improved him 20 lengths because there was no way he could have done what he is doing now a few months ago."

Bettor's Strike signalled his arrival as an open-class horse with a national 2600m record in October, beating Monkey King, before a slightly unlucky second in the New Zealand Cup.

He had to share his next start win in the Cranbourne Cup under bizarre circumstances when the race was declared a deadheat last Thursday, 12 days after the event, because the photo finish proved inconclusive.

However, he has plenty more Australian riches spread out in front of him now. "He will go to Tasmania for two races and then back to Victoria for January before the Hunter Cup."

That feature will mark the final night of harness racing at Moonee Valley and Dunn is thrilled to have the chance to be part of that because Victoria holds a special place in his heart, since he started his driving career there.

While Bettor's Strike's rise up the ranks has been remarkable, Dunn's has been one of the great stories of New Zealand racing.

He was virtually unheard of two years ago but in the past 12 months has smashed the record for wins in a season by any New Zealand horseperson, won major races on both sides of the Tasman and been voted Canterbury sportsman of the year.

And as satisfied as he was by Friday night's victory, he admits he is just as excited about getting back to Alexandra Park next Friday to partner his favourite horse, Smiling Shard.

The latter returned with a crushing victory on Friday and looks set for a huge season.

While Bettor's Strike and Dunn were the stars of the show on Friday, Monkey King lost no fans with his flying fourth.

The New Zealand Cup and Miracle Mile winner made up five lengths in the straight, with driver Ricky May believing he would have won had be been able to get handier earlier.

VICTORIA CUP

* Dexter Dunn's remarkable year continued when he won the Victoria Cup with Bettor's Strike.
* He used a perfect trail to grab favourite Smoken Up and Blacks A Fake in the A$400,000 race.
* Monkey King was a luckless fourth.