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By Ray Hickson

If there’s one small query Matthew Dunn has over Think About Paddy’s prospects of handing the trainer another TAB Highway win at Rosehill on Saturday it’s whether the 1500m is too sharp.

Trainer Matthew Dunn (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Against that, Dunn says it’s a significant class drop for the gelding who was beaten just under five lengths when running fourth in the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.

That was on the back of wins at his first two runs, over 1680m and 1800m, for the Murwillumbah trainer who is eyeing his 40th success at Highway level.

“When you’re comparing Group 3 to Class 3 on Saturday there’s a pretty big margin,’’ Dunn said.

“He gets in pretty well at the weights, that was my only worry I had. I thought they might have weighted him up a bit more but he’ll only carry 57kg.

“The only question is whether he’s looking to go a bit further.

“Craig Williams, the other day, said maybe he needs to go further but the start before we thought he was best kept to a mile. I’ve kept him nice and fresh so I think he’ll be sweet.”

Think About Paddy, $4 with TAB on Wednesday, was a $180,000 Karaka purchase as a yearling and had six starts for Danny O’Brien in Victoria with a third placing over 2200m in March his only podium finish.

He was snapped up online for $27,500 and has won double that for his new owners with his Ipswich and Gold Coast wins in May, and on the back of those Dunn thought the three-year-old wouldn’t be out of place in a stakes race.

“We thought he might be better (than Highway) so that’s why we ran him in the good race, he goes quite well that horse,’’ he said.

“It was a big jump in grade for him, possibly if he’d got to the better part of the track that day he runs into a place.”

Dunn said apprentice Jace McMurray, who reduces the gelding’s weight from the 60kg, will have the option to take up a handy enough spot from a favourable barrier.

A conservative ride is on the cards on stablemate Belvedere Boys as he aims to keep his unbeaten Rosehill record intact in the Listed $200,000 Toyota Forklifts WJ McKell Cup (2000m).

The five-year-old was a Highway winner in February last year and returned in November to claim the Country Classic over the Rosehill 2000m before he graduated to open company in the Queensland summer.

He resumed following his second in the Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) with a midfield finish in a 1500m Listed race three weeks ago and that told Dunn he’s really looking to stay.

“We bounced him quickly in trip because on his first up run he was looking for that, he really struggled to hold a spot where he was,’’ he said.

“He’s looking to run a mile and a half at least this preparation."

Given he is only second-up Dunn said he’d prefer Belvedere Boys to come back from the wide gate at the tricky 2000m start.

“I’d probably prefer to ride him a bit soft, depending on tempo of course,’’ he said.

“He’s showed he’s got a good turn of foot and can drag himself into the race from the 600m pretty well.

Think Like Paddy wins at the Gold Coast on May 23

“As soon as he got out to his right trip last time he was excellent. He showed once he got out in distance he’s a proper stayer and he’ll run well.

“Trying to kick him out of the gates to offset the barrier is probably not ideal but if he gets a little bit of luck he’ll be very good.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting