AN EXPLOSIVE turn of foot down the long Bendigo Jockey Club straight delivered Bob Donat his second race win with the highly promising sprinter Tatunka on Friday.
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The smart four-year-old, with Dylan Dunn in the saddle, unleashed a withering burst to come from near last on the turn and overpower his nine rivals in the 1400m class 1 event.
An ultra-impressive win was the gelding's first since his victory on debut at Kyneton in February and gave Dunn an impressive two wins from two rides on the recently crowned Bendigo three-year-old horse of the year.
Donat told broadcaster Racing.com he never doubted Tatunka's ability to overhaul the pacemakers, after being out the back of the field entering the straight.
"That's really his go ... last start he was a little bit fresh and pulled a bit, and he drew wide. It didn't suit him being up front," he said.
"If he hadn't win today it would've had to look at a (benchmark) 58 and I didn't want to do that.
"It was good to have Dylan back on because he hasn't ridden him since he won on him."
Donat, who races Tatunka in partnership with wife Bronwyn, may well find himself with new offers for his stable star, after rejecting overseas advances in recent months.
Tatunka, who came into the race third-up from a spell, on the back of a second in heavier going at Bendigo earlier this month, improved his record to two wins and three seconds from eight starts.
A successful day for Donat, who trains a team of three horses from his base across the road from the racetrack, included a third with youngster Kwahadi.
Tatunka and Kwahadi are full brothers by Redente out of Paramytha.
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Overdue win for Davilliom
CONSISTENT stayer Davilliom has rewarded the patience of his Bendigo trainer Danny Curran and owners, with a maiden win on his home track.
The four-year-old by Fighting Sun had to wait until start number 12 to notch up his first win, but when it arrived, it arrived in style.
The gelding, who had been placed three times in his previous seven starts was ridden with confidence by Brad Rawiller, who reined in the leaders at the top of the straight and booted him clear to win by 1.8 lengths over 2400m.
Curran was delighted to get the improving stayer's maiden win out the way.
"The owners really wanted a Fighting Sun (horse) and we went and looked at about 30 of them and picked out this fellow," he said.
"He's taken his time to mature, and he's still maturing, but it was fantastic to see him do that today."
While Davillion had produced some of his best runs on rain-affected going, including a third on a heavy 9 at Bendigo earlier in the month, Curran indicated he preferred the horse on drier ground
"Today (Friday) his only doubt was whether he was a genuine stayer, but I think he answered that," he said.
Rawiller was full of praise for Curran and his persistence with Davilliom.
"He has been a difficult horse in the sense he has to get his rhythm and get a few things going his way," he said.
"When he does it's the further the better and it showed that today. In the end he probably pulled up better than I did."
"Today (Friday) his only doubt was whether he was a genuine stayer, but I think he answered that," he said.
Rawiller was full of praise for Curran and his persistence with Davilliom.
"He has been a difficult horse in the sense he has to get his rhythm and get a few things going his way," he said.
"When he does it's the further the better and it showed that today. In the end he probably pulled up better than I did."
Vungers back in the winning circle
A CALCULATED ride from apprentice Logan McNeil proved decisive as Vungers notched up the first win in his comeback to racing.
The Brendon Hearps-trained six-year-old was having the fifth start back in a return from a bowed tendon and was able to bounce back from an unplaced run at Sandown earlier in the month to score at nice odds ($10.40).
The gelding produced three-straight placings early this campaign at Geelong and Bendigo (twice), with Hearps and his owners now able to look to the future with optimism after overcoming some setbacks with Vungers.
McNeil, who was having his first race ride for Hearps, praised Vungers' toughness and was rapt to be able to hang on after a bold front-running performance over the 1600m.
"He is a very tough horse and it was getting a bit close there in the end, but he kept grinding and got the job done," he said.
"I knew if he could skip away on the turn and get a few lengths on them, he would be very hard to run down and he certainly was."
The win was was the first for Vungers since his victory at Moonee Valley in February last year and third overall.
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