The Ryan Balfour-trained Li’l Kontra takes strong form lines into Saturday’s 1100m sales-restricted race coming off a second in the Blue Sapphire Stakes two starts ago before her fourth in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds at Flemington.
Dunn won the Coolmore on star colt Exceedance and jumps aboard Li’l Kontra on Saturday for the first time since winning the Group Three National Stakes on the filly in Adelaide in May.
“I have only ridden her once. She bombed the start that day, I rode her back and it worked out a little secret for her, I suppose,” Dunn said.
“Ryan has done a good job with her. She’s a good filly.
“She ran well the other day in the Coolmore. That was probably a PB for her. But she is going well.”
Her fourth placing in the Coolmore in her first attempt at Group One level was the first time Li’l Kontra has finished outside the top three in her 12 starts which include three wins.
Li’l Kontra takes on four-year-olds as well as her own age in Saturday’s race and was the $3 favourite on Thursday in the field of 12 with four-year-old Star Fall at $4.60.
The field also includes Hawker Hurricane who won the Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic at the corresponding meeting 12 months ago while stakes winner Ef Troop is set to run for the first time since joining the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable.