In-form jockey Matt McGuren is taking a short holiday this week, paving the way for Robbie Fradd to link up with leading Murwillumbah-based trainer Matt Dunn at Lismore on Friday.
Fradd will ride Dunn’s three runners – Bancroft (race two), Cascata Rossa (race four) and Darkening (race eight). He will also partner What’s That (race five) for leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan.
McGuren was initially listed as the rider of Dunn’s runners at acceptance time on Wednesday morning, much to the surprise of the jockey who is holidaying with his family at Hastings Point.
“I think Matt forgot I was taking a holiday this week,” said McGuren, who is having a great season with 56 winners including a Gold Coast treble last Saturday.
Dunn scored at Eagle Farm on Saturday with new stable acquisition Good Job Bro and will be looking to do the same when Darkening and Cascata Rossa line up for their first runs for him at Lismore.
Darkening, formerly trained in South Australia by Tony McEvoy, resumes in the TAB Rewards F&M Class 1 Hcp (1300m). Raced by prominent owners Graham and Linda Huddy, Darkening won one of 11 starts in the south and resumes since finishing fourth at Murray Bridge on 25 September. A four-year-old mare by Encosta De Lago, Darkening recently ran fourth to Good Job Bro in a Murwillumbah trial.
Cascata Rossa, formerly with Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, resumes in the Lismore Events Party Hire C,G&E Maiden Plate (1100m).
The four-year-old Testa Rossa gelding was placed twice in six starts for Perry and resumes since finishing unplaced at Muswellbrook on 23 September. He showed he was on target for a forward first-up run with a Gold Coast barrier trial win over 1000m on 7 February.
Dunn’s other Lismore runner, Bancroft, resumes in the Woodlawn Cup March 18 Benchmark 60 Hcp (1100m). He was spelled after failing on a heavy track at Lismore back on 22 September, but was a first-up winner at the track at his previous campaign in January last year.
The rail for Friday’s eight-race meeting will be in the true position.
– Racing NSW
