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Horse racing is much more than an excuse for gambling. It is a love for the beauty, grace and speed of the horse. It can also be an intellectual battle of examining competing facts and trying to formulate the future from results of the past. In some ways it is an investigation, as performed by an eager detective. And in other ways it can be the thrill of a crossword puzzle, with multiple possible responses, but ultimately only one correct answer. I have been involved with horse racing in both practical and intellectual ways. My passion for the theatre of the racetrack saw me leave school at fifteen and spend early mornings immersed in the sweat, smells, and sting of preparing horses for racing. Later I would come to research bloodlines and work in the multi-million dollar world of thoroughbred breeding and sales. Horse racing has many facets. It does not sit in isolation in the world. It is something we should explore in detail and in depth. For more than ten years I have provided speedrating information to the racing industry and public through my company: Speedratings (www.speedratings.com.au).

Dwayne Dunn joins Freedman

July 3rd 2008 05:53
In Singapore Michael Freedman is building his team numbers as he begins to accumulate winners. Last week he won his second race in Singapore with Ribeiro, previously trained in Australia by his brother Lee, and owned by Katsumi Yoshida.

As well as improving his horse numbers, Michael Freedman looks likely to secure the services of Jay Ford, regular rider for champion sprinter Takeover Target. Ford has applied for a license to ride in Singapore from the beginning of September. Having first call for the services of a talented jockey is an undeniable asset for any stable.

Dwayne Dunn wins fourth consecutive Blue Diamond
Dwayne Dunn wins fourth consecutive Blue Diamond



And at the same time brother Lee has just snapped up the services of Dwayne Dunn to become his number one stable jockey. Earlier this year it did look as though Lee was looking to securing the talents of a South African jockey - but did not rush to a decision and has secured a coup in gaining the services of Dwayne Dunn.

Dunn is a renowned ‘big race’ rider and has won three South Australian Jockeys Premierships, as well as a string of Group One wins including four straight Blue Diamond victories and a Caulfield Cup. Dunn has been the number two jockey for David Hayes for some time and his big race expertise ‘cool head’ will be missed by the Hayes camp this coming Spring. But an opportunity for another jockey arises as he leaves. It can be 'musical saddles' a times.


It is sometimes an awkward ‘marriage’ between trainer and stable jockey - and Lee Freedman has been quick and ruthless in seeking divorce before (At Talaq Corey Brown!).

Dunn’s management have announced that he will be employed on a retainer, such as that employed in Europe or the US, and as example in current use between Godolphin and Kerrin McEvoy. A jockey has no call on holiday or sick pay in the normal course of events, so if good enough - and lucky enough to merit a retainer - it becomes a great source of security and insurance.

Although undisclosed, the retainer (to begin at the start of the 2008-2009 racing season) is believed to be based on a seven figure sum (count them...1,000,000...five...six ...seven...hmmmm...good money even if prefixed by the figure 1...) over three years. It includes incentives, holidays and sick leave. Dwayne Dunne and his management had sought, and have secured, the security of a three year agreement. Jockey heaven!

Obviously Dwayne Dunn will now be relocating to Melbourne and is likely to settle on the Mornington Peninsula, in close proximity to Freedman’s Markdel stable at Rye. A similar relocation was required two years ago when Corey Brown moved his family from Sydney to the Peninsula and became the then stable jockey for Lee Freedman. This marriage lasted only 18 months - half the time that Dwayne Dunn has secured for his tenure. Dunn and Freedman now have a pre-nup agreement for both parties that allows both a degree of confidence.

These unions between jockey and trainer are much like the celebrity marriages of Hollywood. The longevity of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (50 years of marriage in 2008) being the exception for Hollywood and horse racing.


Dwayne Dunn winning on Reean in 2008:

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