Dunn, who continues to fly under the radar with his success rate, was delighted when the pair finished second and third respectively as champion pacer Leap To Fame rode in track record time in Ballarat.
“It didn’t surprise me at all, but it was fantastic to see them both riding so well,” he said.
“They have both really raced, even though they are very different horses. Dee Roe has more point-to-point speed, while Forty Love enjoys rolling, so the fast pace suited him at Ballarat.”
Four-year-old Forty Love claimed victory in the $250,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup on February 14, in place of the 4YO Bonanza on the same card.
“It takes some guts after a run like that,” Dunn said. “I’d like to give him a chance at the Chariots Of Fire (at Menangle), but it probably makes more sense to go to the Hunter Cup and then try to find our way to the Chariots through one of the qualifying races at Menangle.
“If that means I have to go to Sydney earlier to give him that opportunity, then I will do that.”
The 4YO Bonanza has a golden ticket for the Chariots Of Fire, but this only goes to the winner.
“I’ll either go to the Cranbourne Cup or wait and go with him to Kilmore next week,” he said. “Then we move on to the Hunter Cup.”
Dunn rode Forty Love at Ballarat and Jackie Barker took the lead at Dee Roe.
“Regardless of where I take them, I think I’ll leave Jackie on Dee Roe because they’ll clash quite often,” he said.
In the longer term, Dunn wants to try his hand at TAB Eureka with Forty Love.
“That’s the main goal this season,” he said. “I think the big circuit and the longer distance (2300 meters) will really suit him and he is on the rise.”
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