Dunum back to winning ways in Ahonoora Handicap

The Natalia Lupini trained Dunum recorded the biggest success of his career when overcoming a wide draw to run out an impressive winner of the featured Ahonoora Handicap at Galway.

Having finished a close third in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap on Tuesday, the five-year-old appreciated the drop back in trip here, getting across quickly from his wide berth under Billy Lee.

Travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders entering the straight, Lee took over the running from British raider Percy's Lad before kicking clear of his field on the run-in.

Rated just 58 when winning for the first time on his stable debut last May, the admirable gelding has since gone on to win five times. This is undoubtedly the biggest success of his career to date.

Billy Lee said: “I thought it was going to be a big ask from stall 17 in a competitive handicap but I got across nicely and he got me into a good position. I never really had any worries from there on.

“I was in front long enough and he was just doing enough in front. For a big handicap like that it was fairly straight forward.

“He gets a mile well and I just thought they didn’t go quick enough for him the other day and he was a bit keen.

“He’s a fierce uncomplicated horse and just wants a nice gallop in front of him.

“I’d never rode him in a race but had ridden plenty of work on him. He doesn’t do a whole lot when he gets there but I heard plenty of shouting in behind and I knew there was plenty getting boxed in so I said I’d commit and try and take a couple of lengths out of them. It worked today.

“He loved the ground and galloped all the way to the line.

“Wayne (Lordan) is their number one rider and unfortunately he’s out injured at the moment and it would probably have been his ride if he was here.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee