Another GR1 winner for Pastor Stephen
Date: 11 May 2026
By Tony Milanese for HarnessLink
The lightly raced Pastor Dunbar (Pastor Stephen)
claimed his biggest harness racing success at just his fifth race start
with a stirring win in the Group 1 $75,000 Success Stud New South Wales
Trotters Derby at Menangle on Saturday evening.
The race saw the presence of the highly promising Keayang Bazlenka
who had won both the APG VicBred and Betavet Breeders Crown at Melton in
the latter part of 2025 and was resuming in the Derby.
On the strength of that form Keayang Bazlenka was installed a long
odds on favourite. Victorians had six of the eight runners in the field.
Local trotter Superior Stride found the early lead while Notanotha
Naughty took the trail behind the leader. The other local What The Tooth
was three back on the rails while Keayang Bazlenka moved up to race
outside the leader although he seemed to be racing keenly.
Munny The Munster had the one out and one back trail while Pastor
Dunbar although one out was a clear last. Then at the crucial stage of
the event Keayang Bazlenka unexpectedly broke effectively losing all
chance. This left Superior Stride trying to hold off Notanotha Naughty
but Munny The Munster looked threatening out wide with What The Tooth
coming through as well.
In a desperate finish it was Pastor Dunbar with driver Damian Wilson
timing his run to perfection coming out off the track to just grab
victory ahead of Munny The Munster with What The Tooth a credible third.
Pastor Dunbar rated 1.57.6 for the 2300 metre trip. He’s raced by his
breeder Kevin McCluskey.
Pastor Dunbar has only been beaten once on his career at Maryborough
when inconvenienced and finishing a close second to Chantilly Lass.
Damian Wilson is no stranger to Group 1 success with previous performers Major Moth, Lively Moth and Living On Fire.
Wilson reflected after the event.
He’s done everything we’ve asked of him. His only loss
was when he was checked and galloped and lost 40 metres and still run
second. When he’s won those races against the lower class horses
obviously he’s done it so comfortably. So I thought I’d give him a crack
at this.
Me and Laura (Wilson) we both liked him from the start when we first
got him. And he seems to have improved, he works at home like a good
horse so yes we gave him the opportunity. There are no plans at this
stage maybe a little freshen up. He’s not a real big strong horse he
needs to put a bit of weight on so we might give him a fortnight off and
just poke around.
