Trainer Matthew Dunn says one of his horses has to lift while the other two are in enough form to qualify for The Championships Country Series Final if they run well in Grafton’s qualifying race on Friday, March 20, reports Racing NSW.

Dunn will send American Hussler, Idle Chat and Londehero around in the 1400-metre event and while Londehero “needs to find form”, he’s confident he’s got at least one runner that can finish in the first two and qualify for the $300,000 final on day one of The Championships on April 4.

“Idle Chat is probably the pick of my three,” Dunn said.

“She’s fit and ready for this race, which we’ve targeted specifically for her. She can do some pretty special things when the race is run to suit her.

“American Hussler is a three-year-old and he’s a progressive horse who wouldn’t be out of place in this race.
“He’s going to be a Saturday city-class horse soon.”

Dunn expects American Hussler to be up on the speed and a predicted solid pace up front will ensure Londehero and Idle Chat would be running on from the back of the field.

“They’ll run a good tempo up front which is what my three will need,” Dunn said.

If the Murwillumbah trainer succeeds at Grafton on Friday he’ll make the 10-hour trip down to Royal Randwick which he says will be worth it.

“It’s a great incentive and it helps us country trainers out a lot. It gives us a chance to be part of The Championships,” Dunn said.

Terry McCarthy is the other trainer with multiple runners nominated and he has Righteous Miss and Harbor Springs in the running for the $100,000 event.

Final acceptances will be declared on Wednesday, March 18 at 9am.