CHASE A DREAM, even though perhaps overrated for the race by Entain bookmakers, might be back on the New Zealand Cup trail if he maintains his present progress.
The at times enigmatic but outstanding four year old is rated at 10 points shorter than stablemate Akuta for the Cup at 20/1 when the latter is already back on the racing scene and thriving.However Mark expects Chase a Dream to be racing early in October.
“He has been gelded and really thrived. He looks a much stronger mature horse after his spell. I am really impressed with that part of his preparation” Mark said.
Chase a Dream has one week’s hoppling to his credit and if he maintains his present progress may prove the bookmakers right after all.
The real gamble on his future was taken by Mark and Chris Ryder when they purchased him from a Studholme Stud partnership early this year for a not inconsiderable money.
He had been on the path to genuine stardom winning the Flying Stakes last October having scored a sensational Group 1 success in the Sires Stakes Final from near last the previous November,one of the most spectacular performances recorded in that race.
He was 2nd in the $500,000 slot race at the Cup meeting following his Flying Stakes success; 3rd in the Ian Dobson Classic but then failed in the New Zealand Derby after a hectic run.
It was not generally appreciated at that time what a fine job the stable had done in what appeared a disappointing end to the campaign.The colt was proving difficult to train with muscle soreness and associated problems. Because of those he later became available for sale and the “Oscar Bonavena” partnership of Mark and Chris decided to take the plunge.
The bid was largely based on Mark’s confidence he could devise training methods to restore the colt’s enthusiasm and soundness.
Initially it was a challenge but then then Chase a Dream to produce a 1.51.4 mile to win the Waikato Flying Mile beating Merlin and at 23/1,odds hardly believable seven months previously. Then followed a second to Leap To Fame in the $1m The Race by Entain-a significant pointer- before two lesser performances in the Group 1 age group Messenger and the Roy Purdon.
It was then decided,as Nathan had been recommending, that he be gelded and be given a lengthy spell to make a fresh start.
On past history,a racing programme beginning in October has worked well on Cup Day for the Purdon stable,so there will be considerable interest when “Chase” appears on whether the best version,a definite Cup hope,has been restored. So far so good. And as the winner of nearly 50 per cent of his starts and nearly $700,000,the ability is there
Mark was busy at the Pukekohe trials earlier in the week handling the team and was happy with the outcome. Especially impressive was SPECIAL OCCASION who has now joined the “Top 4” first Canterbury-based “spring attack” team who come south in the next few weeks. He clocked better than 2.40 in his trial,making play from midfield before the turn and finishing almost on terms with pacemaker Debbie Lincoln (a smart 2.39.5). MIDNIGHT MIKI not quite as forward yet,sat on Special Occasion’s back and went to the line well.
The young trotter cleverly named NANCY LATOUR didn’t look so impressive to the eye but Mark felt that was not a fair assessment.
“She made a mistake in the end and didn’t look to be trotting smoothly at times but it was not all her fault and I was happy enough with what she showed”
Nancy Latour (Love You) is steeped in fashionable trotting blood, a descendant of the “cult” trotting mare, Dianthus Girl, who broke a 28 year old mile record at three and ran a brave second to the brilliant Au Fait in the 1961 Dominion Handicap after a hard run. It was a golden era for trotting stars. Dianthus Girl was owned in Nelson by the colourful local personality Elenor Taylor,still a devoted fan of Nelson trotting meetings when in her 80’s,and her son,Bert, both of them community leaders outside racing.Her best foal was the outstanding Framalda.
Meanwhile Mark has a slight preference for his drive, ANDRETTI, over ALECTO on Friday night though there seems little between them and they are the only two in the market. The smart filly has the sliding blinds off and Andretti sheds the blinkers.
“It’s just that I felt he was a little keen in his work and this will help to relax him. Both of them are just starting out and improve but I just lean his way” Mark said