Matthew Dunn nailed his three-month plan to win the $1 million TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate (1100m) with emerging gelding Derry Grove, who scored a thrilling last-stride win in the unique feature at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The lucrative victory was the second leg of a Magic Millions Raceday double for the Murwillumbah trainer, who said The Syndicate had been the aim for the five-year-old ever since his midfield finished in the Kosciuszko in Sydney during the spring.
Derry Grove is raced by a large team of owners led by Viva Racing and Saturday’s race was staged exclusively for horses with at least 20 owners.
Viva Racing teamed up with Dunn and Neil Jenkinson to buy the son of Star Turn for $30,000 out of the Jorson Farm draft in Book 2 of the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The lightly-raced gelding now won five races from only 12 starts and more than $800,000 in prizemoney and bonuses for connections.
An elated Dunn praised jockey Nash Rawiller, who lifted Derry Grove over Tony Gollan’s Golden Boom in the shadows of the winning post. Prince of Boom finished third.
“I thought he just missed,” Dunn said.
“He’s a really nice, competitive horse but things didn’t quite go his way in the Kosciusko and it’s been our plan to come to this race from that day.
“A lot of hard work at home and a lot has gone into this horse because things went pear-shaped with him a couple of preparations ago.
“He’s back bigger and better than ever and it’s really good to win a good race like this with him.”
Dunn and Viva Racing have combined for three purchases at this week's Gold Coast Yearling Sale - a colt by Microphone from Glenlogan Park, a rig by Farnan from Widden Stud and a filly by Star Turn from Westbury Stud.
