Dubbo trainer Michael Lunn isn't one to shy away from a challenge.
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The prospect of travelling all the way to the metro for a track that could be soaked through isn't an appealing one to most, but Lunn thinks it's the ideal playground for two horses from his stable.
That's why he's put Club Town and Witness Collector forward as his nominations in the Saturday race meeting in Rosehill.
With the threat of a second COVID-19 wave incoming and chances to pick up a cheque more sporadic this year, Lunn isn't passing up any opportunity to get a good result.
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"You never know how long it's going to last right now with the industry but we're doing good at the moment and everything seems to be going fine, so you've got to make the most of it," Lunn said.
The appeal of the longer track is also something Lunn's relishing ahead of a possible trip to the metro.
"There's no staying races much around here and they both love the wet, so why not?" Lunn said.
"They're both rock hard fit and Club Town's just run a great race in Wellington the other day, but that track is a real tight and turning track and it just doesn't suit him."
"He still needs a run, he's a dead-set two mile horse, he's looking for further than the distance at 2040m, so he'll probably go further and if there's rain, the track'll be more like a 3000m."
While the longer distance will be a welcome change of pace for a horse like Club Town who likes to 'run all day' as Lunn puts it, he's not the only chance Lunn might have, with Witness Collector also making the trip.
"Collector's got a real good bit of ability in him, could have been sold a few times, but the owner said no and we've just kept keeping him and he's really shown that ability; I think it's enough ability about him to win a race downtown," Lunn said.
Both of them just grow extra legs in the wet.
- Michael Lunn
"I figured if I'm taking one, I might as well take two and give him a go, but he's got a real good racing pattern and they both really like the wet surface, he trialled on a wet track and I'm definitely not worried about the rain that they're going to cop down there."
"Both of them just grow extra legs in the wet."
"With the wet track, that'll bring them a better chance for sure, they'll swim through it for sure," Lunn said.
If all goes well, Lunn expects to be in Rosehill bright and early on Friday morning, giving both racers the time needed to be in top shape for Saturday's meeting.
"I'll go down Friday morning, you got to give them that opportunity to rest a little and get over the travel," Lunn said.
While the pressures to make races count amidst the ongoing backdrop of the pandemic have certainly put the pressure on for trainers and horses alike, Lunn's already received the all-clear to make the trip this weekend if his horses are accepted.
"It's all clear for me to go, no problems with the racing industry, we'll all get checked before we even go near the race track, temperature and everything, we're taking care of it, no hassles, you've just got to do what they tell you, easy," Lunn said.
"They're even still racing in parts of Victoria, which surprised me, but it all ran great down there."
Lunn also isn't feeling the pressure to compete at a higher level, while trainers like Bjorn Baker and Gai Waterhouse will all be in attendance with offerings from their own stable on Saturday, Lunn says just because a horse comes from the regions, doesn't mean it can't hold it's own.
"Just because they're bush horses doesn't mean they're not going to match up well with the Sydney horses."
Fields are announced on Wednesday.