Big Dance preparation on track

the week convinced a super cautious Dunn to pull him from the race.

Connections said scans after the accident revealed just superfcial injuries and he will trial tomorrow ahed of the big race on Melbourne Cup day.

At his last start on October 7 there was deja vu for connections.

A brilliant Nash

Rawiller ride in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill got his charge home by a half head from a fastfnishing Cotohele.

It was almost an identical result to the fnal of the South Grafton Cup in July, which gained the Matt Dunn-trained gelding entry to the $3 million Big Dance..

After the race Dunn had nothing but praise for his talented galloper, who has overcome a career-threatening tendon injury a couple of seasons ago to get back to the races and his best.

“He’s had his problems along the way, we patched him up and got him to where he is and it’s just so good,” Dunn said.

“He’s a beauty. He tries his little heart out and he does his best every time he goes to the races.

“We’re looking forward to the Big Dance and that has been his goal right through.

“The fact he’s been able to pick these couple of races up along the way for huge amounts of prizemoney, it’s fantastic for me and the owners.”

He said Cepheus thrived on racing a run in the Filante would have set him nicely. Instead he will run in a trial tomorrow.

“He needs racing and I don’t really want to go four weeks in between with him,” Dunn said.