The Dubbo trainer knew any track downgrade would assist his charge Lukey in the $30,000 Hurricane Fall Country Music Cup (1400m).

And the noted mudlark did not let the renowned horseman down as he powered away on a heavy surface, affected by falls of 10mm in two hours, to an stylish 2 ¾ length victory from Coming In Hot ($4.60).

Lukey ($14) sustained a long run to land the most impressive triumph of his 28-start career in a time of 1:27.33 much to the delight of jockey Anthony Cavallo.

“He relishes the wet, most of the Arena’s do, and won it well,” Cavallo said.

“We were out a bit wide in the run, but he always travelled sweetly and I never hit him with the whip, once I gave him a dig straightening up it was all over.”

Lunn, who enjoyed a long career in the saddle before taking up training, said he had targeted the race from a long way out.

“We ran him here last start over 1400m, he got back that day and didn’t have that much luck,” Lunn said.

“I was happy to see the rain hit because all his form has been on slow and wet tracks.

“He just loved it, he was going to win from a long way out as Choc (Cavallo) said.”

Lukey banked connections $16,800, lifting his prizemoney earnings to more than $77,000.

Lunn is now scouting more wet tracks for the new stable star, who is likely to be aimed at one of the races on the undercard during the Dubbo Cup Carnival.

Of the beaten brigade, Coming In Hot ($4.60) made it a Dubbo quinella as he finished strongly without ever threatening the winner.

Bianbitten ($31) proved the best of the home-track horses in third, while the Inverell hope Cavitation rounded out the first four.

Well-supported favourite Exemption ($5.00 into $3.20) appeared on face value to have some excuses after running seventh, beaten 9.9 lengths.

Early leader Flaming Commodity punctured before the home turn and fell back into the lap of Exemption, who was giving ground as Lukey swept into the race.