Sires Stakes hero CHASE A DREAM and his close mate and rival MAJOR HOT ,along with the filly WATERFALL are likely to line up at the trials this week as the tempo increases for summer racing.
LUVSTRUCK will be the only stable starter at Addington on Friday but there is plenty going on behind the scenes.
Chase a Dream which only began racing in September, looks in for a profitable three year old season given his sensational Sires Stakes win when even Olivia doubted he could make up so much ground. WE WALK BY FAITH was his chief rival then but not quite as forward at this stage having run on Grand Prix Day with great success and as an Australian-bred youngster he could be looking at Sales sponsored races over there later on. Major Hot was third in the SS Final and looks to have come up as well as ever.
“We’ve got most of the racing team back now” Nathan said
“They are shaping well for a good season. We have an odd gap in some areas of top level racing but I’m happy with the way the team is going at this stage. I think some of the youngsters from last year will really step up especially among the trotters ”
The leading youngsters who came through the Sales will be aiming at the Harness Million night at Alexandra Park on February 16 and contenders for that will have a lead up opportunity at Addington on February 2.
Sandwiched in between is the Yearling sales programme and Nathan with the satisfaction of having selected We Walk By Faith at that age is looking forward to extending his record.
“I will be bidding on some for sure,its an important time for our stable and our owners. You need to keep developing the young talent”
Meanwhile AKUTA is in the Water Walker at Matamata while he awaits the scan which will decide his immediate future.
“Dad jogged him up there, he is well within himself but the first scan when the area is still swollen does not give the whole picture The next one will be the decider. It looks quite positive at this stage but you don’t know until it done. ”
Don’t Stop Dreaming leaves Wednesday for Melbourne and the Hunter Cup on Saturday week after which he heads to Sydney on the trail of the Chariots of Fire.Brooke will going with him and supervising until Mark arrives and afterward in Sydney. The Miracle Mile lurks in the background if all goes up to speed and it will certainly be fascinating to watch how the Aussie/Kiwi battle plays out even if Akuta is not among the contenders.