In foal, in form

Most horsemen would agree a mare in foal can take her form to a new level and it appears the case with eight year old I Dream Of Jeannie (Pegasus Spur) who took out the $20,000 Fresh Choice Geraldine Trotters Cup at Orari today.

“You’d have to say that after her last two runs,” driver John Dunn said.

Dunn settled I Dream Of Jeannie at the tail of the field and got a beautiful cart up when Maui improved across the back.

“I was pretty lucky with the handicaps and I got the perfect trip. It definitely helped. She felt great.”

Leader Tactical Bid broke turning in and I Dream Of Jeannie got to the front at the top of the straight and ran away to win the squaregaiters feature by five lengths from Premium Player.

I DREAM OF JEANNIE REPLAY

Today’s win was the mare’s sixteenth in one hundred starts.

Dunn says I Dream Of Jeannie’s next goal will be the Harness 5000 at Ashburton in a fortnight and added that she won’t be heading to Auckland.

“We’ll leave her down here. The owners are down here and she’s still racing for good money. Ashburton is still a good stake ($60,000). It’s a good race at her back door. Even today was worth $20,000 so it was a good race to win. We may look at Omakau. You’re allowed to race (mares in foal) up to ninety days and she’s only up to two weeks now.”

The eight year old was developed by Sam Smolenski who trained her to win her first twelve wins. Today’s win was her fourth for Robert and Jenna Dunn.

“He’s done an awesome job particularly at that level.”

Dunn says in hindsight it was a blessing she miss the Dominion on Cup Day.

“She was sick and we couldn’t take her anyway. It’s worked out good in the long run.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink