By Glenn Davis
It’s not whether you get knocked down – it’s whether you get up.
That could well apply to Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
Dunn is chasing his first Group 1 with his talented sprinter Care To Think in the 1350-metre sprint but is disappointed with the four-year-old’s wide barrier 12.
It was only last year when Dunn looked down for the count with his career in tatters after floodwaters ravaged his Murwillumbah home and stables.
It cost more than $300,000 to repair damage yet he’s bounced back and hopes to train his first Group 1 winner in what he described as one of the best Doomben 10,000 fields in years.
“The floods were an expensive process which cost around $300,000 in repair bills,” Dunn said.
“Luckily, we were able to get the business going fairly quickly.
“Unfortunately, this horse seems to draw bad all the time and I’ll sit down and look at our best option from the barrier.”
Dunn believes the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap next month will be a more suitable race for Care To Think.
“I don’t think he’s that well placed in the 10,000 and he’s a better hope in the Stradbroke,” he said.
“But he’s definitely up to beating them on Saturday especially if they go fast up front.”
Care To Think is back from a brief Sydney autumn campaign which saw Dunn pull the pin on a start in last month’s Group 1 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick.
The So You Think gelding earned an autumn trip after claiming the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast in January which took his record to six wins in 11 starts.
In his only subsequent start, Care To Think finished second in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup at Randwick on March 3 which was the catalyst to Dunn’s decision to abort the Doncaster to concentrate on the Brisbane winter carnival.
“He didn’t settle in the Liverpool Cup from a wide gate and over-raced, so I decided the winter would be a better option and brought him home,” he said.
“I don’t think he’ll over-race again in the 10,000 as there’ll be too much speed in it.”
Racing Queensland webnews May 10