Latest News

By Tony Megahey

The Lunn family, racing institutions in the Central and Western Districts, oppose each other often enough and that’s again the situation at Sunday’s Mudgee TAB meeting on Gooree Park XXXX Cup Day.

It’s a highly anticipated weekend for the veteran Dubbo brothers Garry, who has a particularly strong representation at Mudgee, while Dar has been high in focus regularly with his fantastic speedster Elson Boy.

With the highest winning strike rate in racing this season, Elson Boy is attempting his seventh win in succession into Royal Randwick on Saturday and appears Kosciuszko bound.

Alternately on Sunday, Dar has just a lone modest maiden while Garry has three runners in a 2000m race and a strong chance in a Super Maiden.

In the Robert Oatley BM 66 staying event, vastly experienced nine-race winning mare Weave That Web combines again with rising first season apprentice Siena Grima who has won twice on the Pierro protégé.

Siena claims a vital 3kg off a daunting 63kg. Lunn also has Raiding and Careering Away in the race.

“This mare was originally with Maher and Eustace in Melbourne, only lightly framed but iron constitution but hard to place now weighted on 64kg and 63kg, so I had to find a maximum claimer,” Garry explains.

“And Siena is a little beauty for a first season apprentice, ten out of ten rides both times.”

Siena, born in Sydney and raised in Kempsey, has won ten races and twice on Weave That Web, a Gulgong 1800m and a Dubbo 2200m on particularly heavy tracks.

“Wetter the better but it won’t be as heavy on Sunday, more on the soft side in clearing weather but he'll be hard to beat, drops a kilo, he's really well in,'' he said.

“The mare responds to Siena. I found her just watching the regionals on TV kept her in mind.

“And she was going to win a long way out both times.”

Also for Garry, Divine Belle contests the Blowes Clothing Super Mdn (1400m).

“Divine Belle will keep them real busy, drawn in, she's a filly on the up and her dam Hi Belle had Group placings in Melbourne.”

In an open Cup, seasoned top weight From The Bush and Musical Affair are strong chances.

Naturally Garry will be cheering Elson Boy on Saturday.

“He's a once in a life-time horse. I’ve had mine, Ateates won a Group 2 for me 20 years ago and Dar has his.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Mudgee meeting