It’s family rivalry personified at Monday’s Wellington TAB meeting and an intriguing set of circumstances sees veteran marvel Careering Away the best of good things according to accomplished trainer Garry Lunn.
The seven-year-old, having an admirable 73rd start, was formerly owned in South Australia, did his early racing in Victoria, was sold to Queensland and finally is winding down his career with Garry at Dubbo.
In a rare regional 2400m staying test at Wellington, an Over the Line BM 66, Careering Away is "thrown in" with 60kg less the 2.5kg allowance for apprentice Ronald Simpson.
He won on him with 60kg after an allowance last start over 2200m at Dubbo against most of this field.
From a renowned regional racing family, Garry is the eldest of six Lunn brothers and most have made the natural progression from jockey to training or breeder/owners.
Opposing Garry with friendly rivalry is brother Michael with Club Town and Bemboka, and Michael's wife Karen with Dancing Dude.
Careering Away was a bargain buy for Wayne 'Bronco' Lunn.
"Of course we help each other out, but in a race everyone for themselves, they're just not in the grade of this 'ol horse, he's been too good and tough for them before. They know that," chuckled Garry.
"He ran fourth in the Orange Cup, that was a qualifier for the Big Dance, city and provincial class, no way his opposition could have done that.
"I'm just grateful there were enough noms to put a staying race on.
"That's the problem for me trying to place him. At the weights they can't beat him, he's just so genuine and honest, he'll keep grinding away and they won't get past him."
Logically Careering Away will be "unbackable odds" in a small field as at Dubbo he beat Club Town by near four lengths and Dancing Dude and Bemboka by a lot further.
"After this I'm going to have a look for a mid-week staying race at Warwick Farm or Canterbury, with his benchmark, he'll get in light, and he'll be competitive I'll tell you - especially if the track is rain affected."
At present Wellington is a soft six in fine weather.
