FORTUNES in racing can change pretty quickly, but Bob Donat believes his chances of landing his first city winner might never be better than they will be on Saturday.
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The Bendigo trainer heads to Caulfield with the superbly in-form Tatunka, also chasing his first city win.
Tatunka, a winter specialist, is city-bound on the back of three-straight brilliant wins at Seymour, Wangaratta and Bendigo during May and June.
A $19 chance in early markets, the four-year-old gelding will tackle a benchmark 78 over 1400 metres.
Up against the likes of Victoria's leading training team of Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig, Chris Waller, Mick Price and Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Donat is clearly relishing his and the gelding's underdog status.
But with five wins and three placings from 13 starts, Tatunka has certainly earned his chance in town.
"They never give us unheard of trainers much of a chance against the big boys, but he's proved himself by carrying some weight against some better quality horses, obviously not better than these, but horses who have underestimated him and he has done it pretty well," he said.
"Saturday he is coming back in weight against pretty similar opposition.
"He is a 76-rater in a benchmark 78, so he's getting in with 59kg, whereas he's won with 63, 62 and 61, so he's dropping 2kg.
"With a bit more luck we might get a bit more rain before Saturday. He loves it heavy. It's a seven at the moment, so that might cull a few out, who don't handle it as well."
Tatunka, by Redente out of Paramytha, has shown considerable ability from the moment he won his first start as a three-year-old at Kyneton.
So much so that the gelding attracted an attractive bid from Hong Kong interests.
"We did knock a fair bit of dough for him ... you look a bit of a mug if they don't do any good," Donat said.
"But he's won five out of 13, so I'm pretty happy with the decision."
Donat is sticking to the winning formula, with Dylan Dunn, who has ridden Tatunka in all five wins, again in the saddle.
"I reckon I've picked out the right race for him, I can't do much more than that other than to leave it up to him now, " he said.
"He's drawn barrier eight, which I'm pretty happy with. He won't get back as far as he normally does.
"But I will leave all that up to Dylan - Caulfield can be a funny track, if it was Flemington I'd drop him right back in the field, but they seem to be running a lot handier there."
If he's looking for an omen, Donat can look with confidence to the breeding.
Chasing his sixth win, Tatunka is out of Paramytha, a mare Donat trained to six wins from 46 starts.
Paramytha's dam, Sweet Pepper, was also trained by Donat and ended her career with six wins.
If he is able to achieve his first city winner, the Bendigo trainer admits it would only be fitting to come with a horse he has weathered a few tough times with.
"I have had plenty of placings, but not a win. Especially doing it on a Saturday would be great," he said.
"I started favourite down in Melbourne once about 30 years ago, but he ran third and then second the following Saturday.
"That was back when I was a young lad, I'm getting old now and time's running out for me now," he added with a laugh.
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