For celebrated veteran Dar Lunn, it’ll be sweet satisfaction if Elson Boy with impeccable form lines can win him another Narromine Digger’s Cup at Sunday’s TAB meeting, but it won't compensate for the biggest disappointment of a long career as jockey and trainer.
After winning the Western Racing Association qualifying leg of the Newhaven Park Country Championships at Coonamble beating well-performed Gallant Star, the speedy Elson Boy (NZ) was one of the favourites for the $1 million Final at Royal Randwick, but cruelly for Dar had to be scratched with injury.
Gallant Star then finished a close second in the Final to outsider Asgarda.
"They always say 'that's racing', but it was gut wrenching - I've been in racing 60 years and you can wait a lifetime for a good horse and a big race with life changing prizemoney - yep, a real bitter pill to swallow," Dubbo-based Dar reflected.
"After he trialled, I came back that evening to bed him down, his head was down, could hardly move his neck, it was a bad strain right through to his shoulder.
"But the main thing since that after treatment he seems as good as ever in his work and attitude, bucking his brand off, a good sign.
"If he's back to where he was in the Championships, he's got to be hard to beat here at the weights.
"I also had him nominated for the Tamworth Cup, a Big Dance qualifier on Friday, 200 grand race.
"But it's eight hours return float trip compared to 80 minutes Highway to Narromine. So just as a precaution if there was still anything lingering with that injury we went that way."
Elson Boy is well in at Narromine in the $27,000 USMC Digger's Cup 1300m with 57.5kg for form apprentice Braith Nock.
Rarely led in his races, Elson Boy carried the same to win the WRA qualifier and 58.5kg previously winning at Dubbo. The former Mark Newnham four-year-old is a massive bargain at just $6000.
"Mark was going to Hong Kong and moving his horses on, he told me he hadn't done anything win him."
Now an incredible bargain for the former jockey and two-decade trainer is the speedster's five wins and near $150,000 prizemoney.
"Were drawn out in 9 but with his turn of foot, he'll get across, there's a good long run to the first turn from the 1300m chute.
"That lad [Braith Nock] is riding really well, should lead and take catching, couldn't be happier with him.
"Over the years I've won this Cup a couple of times as a jockey and trainer."
At present Narromine is a Good 4 in fine weather.
