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.
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:
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
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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