Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn has his eye on the Kosciuszko after chalking up his 41st TAB Highway win at Rosehill last Saturday with Without Parallel. 
The $2.45 favourite relished the heavy 10 conditions, romping away to a 4¾-length win in the 1200-metre Class 3 event under apprentice Anna Roper. 
The four-year-old’s all-the-way win had Dunn immediately considering a start in the $2 million Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on October 18. 
“We have to start thinking seriously about the race now,” Dunn said. 
“Horses can go from Highway races to the Kosciuszko but they need to win like she did. 
“I did something similar with a horse called Derry Grove. He won two Highways before running in the Kosciuszko. 
“I’ve got a bit more time up my sleeve with this horse, so I’ll go home and plot a path.”
Roper had no hesitation in sending the mare straight to the front and never looked in danger of defeat. 
“It’s a really impressive effort,” she said. “She added another string to her bow today with the wet track and in Sydney grade. 
“I was hoping to lead. It meant I was able to get to the best part of the track. She handled that track really well. 
“She has a super turn of foot. Turning for home, I gave her one slap down the shoulder and she took off like a rocket, so she really is a nice horse for the future. 
“She’s the nicest horse I’ve sat on in a Highway, that’s for sure.”
Without Parallel remains unbeaten after four starts. 
“She handles firm, good, soft and heavy conditions,” Dunn said. “She can make the pace or come from off the speed. A real little runner. She’s an intelligent little racehorse that just does it. 
“The way she did that today was no surprise to me. The only question I had was if she was going to get through the heavy ground and she’s ticked that box now.”
Later in the afternoon, Dunn was responsible for a boilover at Eagle Farm when Golden Decade took out the EVA Air Open Handicap (1000M). The winner, who was resuming from a spell, started at $40.
Rule of Law
The 1400-metre benchmark 78 for fillies and mares saw Anna Roper back in the winner’s circle after piloting Sunshine Law ($4.80) to victory for emerging Wyong trainer Denim Wynen. 
Sunshine Law was having her first start for Wynen, having been purchased out of the stable of Annabel and Rob Archibald.
The win improved the four-year-old’s record to three wins and five seconds from 10 starts. 
Boy goes bang
Later, in the benchmark 78 over 1400 metres, Dubbo gelding Elson Boy ($12) knocked off Chris Waller-trained favourite Captain Furai.
Ridden by three-kilo claiming apprentice Will Stanley and trained by Dar Lunn, Elson Boy improved his heavy-track record to three wins and a second from five attempts. 
Captain Furai loomed up to challenge Elson Boy but weakened on his run. 
Around the traps
At Kembla Grange last Friday, local trainer Mitchell Beer shared training honours with Warwick Farm’s Matthew Smith, both landing doubles. 
On a track rated a heavy 9, the Smith-trained Super Sugoi impressed in recording a 4¼-length win in the 1600-metre Class 1 while the Beer-trained Spiritualistic looked good winning the 1300-metre maiden by the same margin. 
Super Sugoi was ridden by three-kilo claiming apprentice Olivia Dalton while Tom Sherry rode Spiritualistic. 
At the Coffs Harbour Showcase meeting the same day, Matthew Dunn took out the $50,000 Super Maiden (1000m) with three-year-old filly Mrs Goldberg, ridden by apprentice Jett Newman. 
In the 2000-metre Ken Howard Cup, the Kris Lees-trained Barazin won by just a head from Indifference. The winner was ridden by Andrew Mallyon. 
At the Forbes Showcase meeting on Sunday, the feature Forbes Cup (1600m) went to the Joseph/Jones-trained Louie’s Legacy ($6.50) ridden by Quayde Krogh. 
The 1300-metre Super Maiden was won by $3.10 favourite, Ishikari, ridden by Donovan Dillon and trained at Bathurst by Dean Mirfin.
Coming attractions
This Friday’s action is at Canberra and Port Macquarie, while Saturday sees cup days at Casino and Louth, with the features over 1400 and 2000 metres respectively. 
The township of Louth is situated on the Darling River, just over 800km from Sydney, but to entice racegoers the town puts on farm tours, a golf challenge, morning teas, a fete and more. It’s one of the state’s most popular country race meetings. 
Sunday’s features at Dubbo, the two main races are the 1100-metre Cup Sprint Prelude and the 1400-metre Dubbo Cup Prelude, while at Wagga the same afternoon, the 2500-metre Riverina Cup is the highlight.