KEY POINTS:
John Dunn didn't used to be a very good reinsman.
That might sound a little harsh but it is the assessment of the man who should know - Dunn himself.
But when he pulls down the curtain on his junior driving career at Addington tonight he can do so with plenty of pride.
The Canterbury horseman will drive his favourite horse, Corka Dream, as he strives for six wins on end tonight but regardless of the result Dunn starts the next phase of his career on a high.
In the last month he has reined his 100th career winner, taken out the NZ junior driver's championships last weekend and sits a comfortable third on the junior's premiership with 38 wins for the season.
"Really, I wouldn't have dreamed it would go this well," admits Dunn.
The oldest son of trainer Robert Dunn, John's main ambition when he started in harness racing was to become a trainer.
"I wanted to drive but when I started I wasn't very good to be honest.
"So I thought concentrating on training long-term would be the go but things have turned around."
Working for his father, John has slowly secured better drives and naturally his confidence has grown.
"Getting on better horses helps but just being out there every week improves your confidence."
With such a big season behind him Dunn says he is not concerned about ending his junior driving career, an often worrying time for young drivers.
"The support from Dad's owners has been great and I get outside drives too so I think it will still tick along all right. I like to think I could aim for maybe 50 wins next season."
Dunn is hoping a key player in that chase will be Corka Dream, who heads to the spelling paddock after race three tonight.
The 3-year-old is chasing a penalty-free win but faces two tough obstacles - his first standing start and in-form rival Keytoourdreams.
"I don't think the standing start will be a biggy because he has had one at the workouts," said Dunn.
"But Keytoourdreams won well here last week and he has good manners so he could take some beating."
Dunn believes Corka Dream can work his way through the grades next season, especially as he should return a far stronger horse.
"He can be a tricky horse to drive but he has the motor and still has a lot of maturing to do."
And if Dunn can repeat his big season next term he knows exactly where much of his percentages of the stakes will be going. He is getting married in February.
Tonight's meeting has a guaranteed $250,000 Pick6 but punters may be wise to take a percentage bet as there are few obvious anchors.
