Dunn unveils long range Stradbroke plans for Boom Torque

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matthew Dunn has had many good horses go through his stable in recent times but a Group 1 win has so far eluded him.

But, that could soon change if promising sprinter Boom Torque fulfils his promise and heads to the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June.

Boom Torque claimed the Magic Millions QTIS race at the Gold Coast last month and is on track for his next assignment. 

The four-year-old steps out for the first time since his Magic Millions victory in the Open Handicap over 1350 metres at Doomben on Saturday.

“He’s a really progressive horse and he’s jumped every bar we’ve put in front of him,” Dunn said.

“He’s going to be an even better horse later on.”

Dunn is not yet ready to compare Boom Torque to his best horse, Cepheus, who won the Group 2 Shannon Stakes and the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill last spring.

“It’s too early to compare them but potentially he could be as he’s progressing faster than most horses,” Dunn said.

Dunn has mapped out an initial program for Boom Torque which includes a Class 6 Plate over 1350 metres at Doomben on February 24. 

“After that he’ll go for a break and came back for the Queensland winter carnival and hopefully the Stradbroke Handicap,” Dunn said.

Dunn was full of praise for Boom Torque’s win the Magic Millions QTIS race. 

“It was a great win as he had to do all the hard work and come five and six wide to win,” Dunn said.

Boom Torque was a $50,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales after being offered by Glenlogan Park but started off with Billy Healey and Kacy Fogden before joining Dunn at Murwillumbah.

In six starts for Dunn, Boom Torque has won five times with his only defeat when third in an 1110 metre Benchmark race at Doomben in December.

Meanwhile, Dunn hasn’t ruled out a Sydney or Melbourne autumn campaign for Fukubana who tackles the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1200 metres on Saturday. 

Fukubana was on trial for the Group 3 Eskimo Prince at Randwick on Saturday when he resumed with a close third to the Scott Morrisey-trained Tikka Ready in an 1110 metre Benchmark race at Doomben last month.

“I was a bit disappointed with his first-up run but he was still good and nothing went to plan,” Dunn said.

“The race just wasn’t run to suit him but he still may go south to either Sydney or Melbourne for the autumn if he runs well on Saturday.

“Based on his first-up run I think he’s probably looking for 1600 metres.”