Ready to catch everyone by surprise

THEY caught pretty much everyone by surprise last weekend, and with a bit of luck, they’ll do it again tomorrow night.

That’s the hope of trainer Aaron Dunn heading into Cranbourne’s premier night of the season.

Rank outsiders at $151 and $101, Dee Roe and Forty Love filled the placings in last Saturday night’s Ballarat Cup, won by superstar Leap To Fame.

Ready for action once more, the stablemates will tackle the Cranbourne Cup and the Four and Five-Year-Old Championship.

Dee Roe will meet Leap To Fame in the Cup, with the son of Art Major again among the outsiders at $84 with TAB Fixed Odds from barrier six.

Despite his recent win and champion status, Leap To Fame is on the second line of betting at $2.40 from gate four, with Kingman the $1.65 favourite from the pole.

“Dee Roe could have gone in the same race as Forty Love, but I decided to split them up,” Dunn said. “He is right at peak fitness, so I can’t be happier as far as that is concerned.

“From the draw through, I’ve got no choice but to go back at the start, hope they go stupid up front and bring us into it at the end.

“We’ll just have to see how it all pans out.”

To be driven by Dunn, Forty Love has drawn the only barrier the horseman “didn’t want” – eight!

“I knew he would be on the back line due to the conditions, but the one draw I didn’t want was eight,” Dunn said. “I would have preferred nine.

Despite the early obstacle, TAB Fixed Odds have Forty Love as the $4.60 second elect behind War Dan Buddy at $2.60.

Drawn gate 10, War Dan Buddy is first-up since finishing second in an Australian Pacing Gold Vicbred Super Series Final on November 19.

“He couldn’t be going any better,” Dunn said. “He’s feeling terrific within himself and his work this week has been great.

“There are quite a few nice horses in it as you’d expect, but War Dan Buddy is the one to beat.”