Dwayne Dunn may hold the record for most Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) wins but has failed to translate this success in the other autumn feature two-year-old race, the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
Dwayne Dunn will look to win his first Golden Slipper with Lake Geneva. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Three of Dunn’s four Blue Diamond winners – Undoubtedly (2005), Sleek Chassis (2007), and Reaan (2008) – went on to run in the Golden Slipper but failed to make anything of the $3.5 million race, with all three finishing at the tail-end.
This year, Dunn is hoping that a Blue Diamond placegetter, not winner, can help him land his first victory in the world’s richest two-year-old race. He will ride Lake Geneva this afternoon, who he rode to third place in the Blue Diamond Stakes on February 28. The filly will jump from barrier four and is a $16 hopeful in the Ladbrokes.com.au betting market.
“She needed to have an advantage with the barrier draw and that she’s got,” Dunn told Sky Racing.
“If she can get the right run in transit I’m sure she can be around the money.”
Lake Geneva has had just two career starts, running a head behind Fireworks in the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) for second place on January 31 before her minor placing in the $1 million Blue Diamond.
Dunn is confident that a wide start from the outside gate for $3 favourite Vancouver will only help Lake Geneva’s chances at winning the 2015 Golden Slipper.
“It’s a real game-changer for the favourite,” he said.
“He doesn’t have to lead. He can still sit in the middle of the bunch and still have a good finish. What we’ve seen of him has been awesome and he’s going to take a lot of beating, but barriers play a big part in this race and probably advantages us a bit more than it does the favourite.”
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