By Duane Ranger
Dexter Dunn thinks he has a royal show of winning tonight’s feature pace at Manawatu Raceway, but believes Atom Hanover in the fifth event is his best drive of the night.
Dunn will drive in five of the eight races on offer tonight – all for Canterbury trainer Michael House.
Asked if he was going to be a regular at Manawatu meetings this season Dunn replied:
“Probably not but you never know. I’m just up here supporting Michael at this stage. He has a nice team and hopefully I can get a few of them home on Thursday,” Dunn said.
The 2015 World Driving Champion and eight time New Zealand title holder believed McArdle Royale could make it three straight in the feature pace – the $7,500 Next Meeting Sunday November 1 Mobile for C3 to C6 pacers.
“He’s been going super the last few starts and can repeat. He went quick time at Addington and I always thought he would go well up there.
“He was favourite both times he won. The first day from the second line and the second day off the front. He felt real nice and can notch up his sixth win. He’s drawn well at two this time compared to his toughest opponent, CA Penny, who has drawn wide,” Dunn said.
McArdle Royal reverts to the 2000m mobile on Thursday after previously winning over 2500m on the first two days. The 6-year-old McArdle gelding has one once from nine starts and also placed three times over the distance.
He is unbeaten in two starts on the track.
Although the 26-year-old driving extraordinaire rated McArdle Royal a nice winning chance, he didn’t rate him as highly as stablemate Atom Hanover in the $6,500 Doug Gale Racing Stables C1 Pace.
“He’s also drawn two and went real well the first night from his second row draw and then galloped on the second day. He’s way better than that.
“I think he can win on Thursday. He’s a nice pacer who should win more than just one race. He only needs to step to go very close,” Dunn said.
Atom Hanover has only had two starts at Manawatu but did win his only race over the 200m mobile at Oamaru on May 17.
The son 4-year-old son of Righteous Hanover was put out for a year last April after a sixth and a ninth, but resumed with that Oamaru win. He has now raced nine times for a win and a third.
The Allan Shutkowski trained and Scott Phelan driven Molly Sims should be the toughest for Atom Hanover to beat despite drawing 11.
The American Ideal mare won by almost three lengths at the Marlborough Trials in Blenheim on Saturday (October 24). Molly Sims has also won over the distance and on the track.
Her trainer also conditions CA Penny in the feature event.
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