Dunn to ride Contributer in Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes

Top Melbourne jockey Dwayne Dunn will be the new rider for Contributer when he resumes in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 5.

Dwayne Dunn will be the new rider for Contributer when he resumes in the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Dwayne Dunn will be the new rider for Contributer when he resumes in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Dunn takes over from Godolphin’s retained jockey James McDonald who will be required to ride their horses in Sydney on Chelmsford Stakes Race Day at Randwick.

“Dwayne Dunn will ride him. Mac has a big day in Sydney,” trainer John O’Shea told Sky Racing’s HQ.

“He hasn’t been steering real straight lately so we will try to get him back into a nice rhythm in Sydney. I think and we have a lovely book of tide for him there.”

“He will ride Hauraki, Hartnell, Ottoman, so he has a full day and some very important rides.”

McDonald has been aboard Contributer at all of his five Australian starts and has steered the English import to four wins, including two at Group 1 level during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

At his first run on Australian soil during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival, Contributer was able to win the Group 3 $150,000 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield and then ran eighth to Hucklebuck in the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 8.

Contributer then kicked off his Autumn Carnival in great style with a win in the Group 2 $250,000 Optus Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 14.

The High Chaparral stallion then put back to back weight for age Group 1 wins together by taking out the $500,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 and the $500,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 21.

McDonald won’t be riding this Saturday at Rosehill because of suspension and will miss the plum ride on Exosphere in the Group 2 $175,000 MTA NSW The Run To The Rose (1200m).

McDonald pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding at Randwick last Saturday in the Group 3 $125,000 Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) after he allowed eventual winner Shards to shift out at the 200m inconveniencing Kathy O’Hara’s mount Cannyescent.

Stewards suspended McDonald from riding for five meetings, meaning that he will miss this weekend’s Run To The Rose meeting at Rosehill but will be back for the Chelmsford Stakes Day meeting at Randwick the following Saturday.

The Group 1 $3m William Hill Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 is Contributer’s main Spring Carnival goal and he currently shares the top of the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au with English galloper Arod just ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s rising star Highland Reel at $12 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Criterion.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.