Episode 384: Matt Dunn

After a wonderfully successful decade training from his Murwillumbah base, Matt Dunn surprised a few people when he elected to open a metropolitan stable. The first negative was his ineligibility for the weekly TAB Highways which he’d dominated since their inception in 2015. Matt talks about the numbers in his Rosehill and Murwillumbah stables. He acknowledges the contribution of Holly Julius who runs the northern operation. Matt talks of his frequent visits to the northern rivers. The trainer talks of the easy access to many racetracks from the Murwillumbah stables. He lauds the vastly improved country prize money levels. Matt trained under Gerald Ryan’s name for the first two years at Murwillumbah. He explains how the concept came about. He admits he was sad to have to forfeit the right to run in the TAB Highways. The talented trainer talks about a successful run enjoyed by the operation through the month of August. Matt reflects on his childhood fascination with horses. He learned to ride at a Frenchs Forest riding school. He looks back on a dual apprenticeship beginning at Warwick Farm and continuing at Port Macquarie. Matt rode a respectable number of winners but is brutally honest when he rates his talents in the saddle. He acknowledges a horse called Whiskey Decanter who played an important role in his early career. Matt rode the grey to a handful of wins before training him successfully. Matt struggled to make ends meet as a bush trainer, and he actually walked away from racing. He returned to his family in Sydney and worked in his father’s earthmoving business. He regenerated his training career on the Gold Coast and did well with average horses. This prompted Gerald Ryan to offer him the job of managing newly established Sydney stables. He spent eight years with the iconic trainer. Matt reflects on one special horse he looked after during his time in the Ryan stables. The young horseman got a massive shock when he told Gerald of his intentions to go it alone from a Murwillumbah base. Matt talks of the young lady from Byron Bay who requested a job in the Murwillumbah stable. Keira is now his wife and business partner. Dunn acknowledges some of his favourite horses beginning with Care To Think whose promising career was hindered by breathing issues. He talks of a Country Championship Final win with Gracie Belle. He’s not allowed to contest the series nowadays. Matt pays tribute to his good friend and bloodstock adviser Neil Jenkinson.