Racing
Dunn celebrates breakthrough stakes success
Husband and wife Jeff Dunn and Rikki Jamieson have combined for a memorable Ramornie Handicap win.
Former stunt rider Jeff Dunn has celebrated his biggest victory as a trainer with Sha Of Gomer capturing the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.
Formerly a performer in the Australian Outback Spectacular show at the Gold Coast, Dunn has turned his hand to training in recent years and on Wednesday landed his first black-type win in the feature country sprint.
Ridden by his wife, Rikki Jamieson, Sha Of Gomer ($10) was given a beautiful run trailing the speed before launching in the straight to down Compelling Truth ($4 fav) by 1-1/4 lengths with Barber ($6) another half-length away third.
Dunn has around 15 horses in work and said winning a Ramornie Handicap (1200m) was a moment he would treasure, especially given the race's esteemed history and the fact he shared it with his life partner.
"This would have been great for me but I will never surpass this in my career now because Rikki was on," Dunn told Sky Racing.
He also admitted he didn't celebrate until the winning post, fearing he might jinx himself if he went "the early crow".
"I've had a few early crow moments in my time and I didn't want to do that in a big race," he said.
"The way he was travelling leading into the corner, I was getting up out of my seat. Halfway down the straight I stood a bit taller and by the winning post I was jumping up and down."
Sha Of Gomer's victory made amends for the heartache of the gelding's half-length defeat in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich two starts ago.
However, Dunn said in hindsight they also learned a lot about the horse that day given he had only joined the stable in April.
"Having that run taught us a lot about the horse and how long his turn of foot lasts," Dunn said
"Had we not had that run we might not have been able to win the last two."
Sha Of Gomer's victory was Jamieson's second at Listed level and broke an 11-year stakes race drought for the hoop after she claimed the 2014 The Phoenix at Eagle Farm aboard Lucky Tom.
Like Dunn, Jamieson was elated to share the success with her partner.
"Doing it with Jeff makes it better for me," Jamieson said.
"I've had a bit of a career myself and he is just beginning. He just needs a few more decent horses to pick him up because he trains so well and we work really well as a team."
Sha Of Gomer has now won three of his six starts since joining Dunn, the past two in succession.
Check out our FREE full form, ratings for meetings in nine countries each and every day.