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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Matthew Dunn credits a ‘ridiculous’ looking gear change as the secret behind Kosciuszko-bound Derry Grove producing the form that earned him a spot in next month’s $2 million country feature.

Trainer Mathew Dunn (Pic: Grant Guy)

On the suggestion of jockey Brodie Loy, Dunn fitted a brow band on the gelding’s head and he hasn’t been beaten in a trial or race since and with The Kosciuszko looming he hopes that record continues in Saturday’s TAB Highway (1000m) at Randwick.

Unfortunately Dunn’s second Kosciuszko runner Coco Rox had to be withdrawn from the race with injury leaving another slot to be filled.

He said Derry Grove has always been a talent and while he’ll need to continue to improve to be a Kosciuszko winner he’s all upside.

“He needs to go to another level to be competitive with horses like Far Too Easy and Mogo Magic and the like but who knows where the bottom is,’’ he said.

“He was untested the other day winning by five. If they overdo it up front (in a Kosciuszko) he’s the one that’s going to flash late.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had one canter up the rise like he did at Randwick before in my life. It’s nice to watch, it’s the sign of a good horse. Especially when he pressed the button he went.

“You see them amble up the rise and they might find half a length but he found another five.”

Derry Grove kicked off his career with a maiden win at Warwick Farm in late 2021 but lost his way going unplaced in four of his next six starts.

It was following a Ballina trial at the end of June that Loy made the suggestion that has changed the horse’s fortunes and put him in The Kosciuszko field.

“We had it in our minds that might be the way he’d go if he could get back to the way he was early days,’’ Dunn said.

“He wasn’t jumping properly, then he was trying to rush through his races. We ironed all that out and that’s why he wears a brow band. As ridiculous as they look.

“I’d never really used one and Brodie Loy rides him every day and he rode him in a couple of trials for me, he suggested a brow band and it fixed him immediately.”

The five-year-old returns to Randwick a month after his runaway Highway win over 1100m and Dunn can only expect the same horse to turn up and confirm his standing as a Kosciuszko threat.

He’s a $15 chance in that race and was $4 with TAB on Thursday for the Highway.

Nash Rawiller, who is booked to ride him in the $2m race, is on board again and Dunn said given the travel from Murwillumbah the gap between runs suits the horse and will do so again for next month’s grand final.

Dunn isn't concerned about a slightly wide gate for Derry Grove, seeing it as more of a positive than negative given the 1000m starting point at Randwick.

Derry Grove wins at Randwick on August 19

“He’s probably little more effective on rain affected ground but that’s not to say he can’t go on good ground. As long as it’s not a 3,’’ he said.

“I know his wet track form looks really good. But last prep nothing went to plan for him and that makes his dry track form not look as good.

“There looks to be good tempo. Traffic problems can be an issue in Highway races when horses are starting to fold up late but from that gate I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.

“If he got stuck three deep with some cover that’d be perfect. Hopefully he beats them up again like he did last start.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting