THE word excitement might not even be sufficient to sum up Bec Dunn’s state of mind at present.
The experienced Newcastle horsewoman has every reason to be “over the moon” – and then some.
Not only did she notch her first home track winner at Broadmeadow on Thursday, but a “special addition” to her stable had a jumpout there the following morning.
The special addition is none other than On Her Word, the now nine-year-old mare who gave Dunn an emotional city breakthrough just over five years ago when, with Josh Parr aboard, she won a Maiden Plate (1100m) for two and three-year-old fillies at Warwick Farm on June 12, 2019.
First prize that day was $22,000; a tidy return on the $500 she outlaid for the daughter of Benfica at a 2018 Scone weanling and thoroughbred sale the previous year.
That was On Her Word’s sole success, but she was placed eight times and “retired” with earnings of just over $72,000.
On Her Word hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the Hurricane Handicap (900m) at the Newcastle Cup carnival in September, 2021.
In the interim, she has produced two foals to the stallion Outreach; a filly and colt.
“I’m so excited to have On Her Word back in work,” Dunn told us.
“She has been back in the stable for two months, and I’m just pottering about with her.
“On Her Word might have been three years away from racing, but she is sound and strong and in really good order.
“I thought why not have another go with her? I don’t want to die wondering.
“They’re forever retired and besides the buck stops with me because I own her and don’t have to answer to anyone else.
Dunn was especially thrilled to get a Newcastle victory on the board last Thursday with Inferencia ($14) in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).
It was the five-year-old mare’s fourth win, and her first crack at the ‘mile’.
“I always felt she would manage 1600m, but it has taken time to get her there,” Dunn said.
‘Inferencia and her Newcastle winning jockey Darryl “Digger” McLellan really click.
“Digger loves her, and she loves him.
“He helped me out at trackwork one morning, and then the next time asked if he could ride Inferencia work.
“I wasn’t sure because she can be a fussy mare, but they get on so well together.
“Digger has now ridden her three times for two wins (the first was at Tamworth on June 28), and he also ran a close second on her there a week earlier.”
Just like Dunn’s bargain buy On Her Word, there’s also quite a story to Inferencia.
Dunn bred her from a Reward For Effort mare she raced in Forever Ranga, whom she described as a “rescue case”.
“I saw her in a paddock, and she was emaciated,” she said.
“She had lice all over her body, but I said to my partner Luke Moy that I wanted to look after her, and I did.
“We won two races with her (at Muswellbrook and Tuncurry in the last two months of 2017), but she got a virus soon after which affected her epiglottis (flap in the throat which keeps food from entering the windpipe and lungs), and was retired after only nine starts.”
Because of Dunn’s liking for the stallion Inference (a son of So You Think who won four races, including the 2017 Group 1 Randwick Guineas, 1600m), she sent Forever Ranga to Victoria to be mated with him – and Inferencia was the result.
Dunn is eyeing a Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on August 29 with Inferencia, but will be guided by the mare’s progress in the next few days.
“When she won last Thursday, she was backing up a week after running third at Newcastle over 1400m (when ridden by Jess Taylor),” she said.
“Irrespective of whether she runs in the Midway, I’m sure we can win another race or two
with her.”
Story John Curtis, August 16, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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