Don’t Stop Dreaming too classy in Terang Cup

Outstanding New Zealand pacer Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) at last was able to show Australian harness racing fans his true colours with a powerful staying performance to take out last night’s $30,000 Terang Co-Op Pacing Cup at the Dalvui Raceway last night.

Patiently driven by Kate Gath, Don’t Stop Dreaming eased back to the rear of the field early from his wide second row draw.

Exotic Bushranger showed exceptional early speed to take up the running.

Local star Keayang Tokyo had solid support as second favourite and settled back one out and one back after there was shuffling in the field.

Gath allowed Don’t Stop Dreaming to work around the field with little effort and he looked comfortable outside the leader. When he strode to the lead on the final bend there were few challenges and he looked well in control as he had just under 4 metres to spare over Keayang Tokyo with Jilliby Nitro a close third.

Grand campaigner Triple Eight was well back and forced very wide when making his run but he showed his determination in coming in fifth.

Brook Wilkins who is the stable foreman for Mark and Nathan Purdon expressed her delight after the event.

“It’s really good to be here. This little horse has done a super job since coming to Victoria. We were a bit concerned with three runs in a fortnight.” “It was a great drive from Kate Gath.”

Kate Gath was full of praise for Don’t Stop Dreaming.

“He’s such a lovely horse. I feel so lucky to get a pick up driver like him, he’s just a pleasure. He worked around the field and it was very tradesman like.”

“I think he’s a very fast horse. But in these sort of races he can also make his own mark and put himself in positions where he can win the race.”

Later in the evening star trotter Keayang Chucky (Love You) confirmed his status as one of the nation’s best trotters when he came off 20 metres to overwhelm his rivals in the Listed Matthews Petroleum Terang Trotters Cup.

Jason Lee on Keayang Chucky was content to sit back at the rear and crept up to the field in the final lap. Aldebaran Vera raced to the front on straightening but Keayang Chucky with one final sprint swept past his rivals to record an impressive win over Aldebaran Vera.

Keayang Chucky was runner up in the Inter Dominion and a close third in the Great Southern Star so he is ready to win a major group event in the near future.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink