All eyes on Don’t Stop Dreaming

Harness racing punters will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) when he returns to Addington tomorrow to start his tilt at the IRT New Zealand Cup in just over three weeks time.

The Mark and Nathan Purdon trained four year old has had two trials since last racing in May.

“He’s really good. The two trials he’s had he’s handled exactly the way I wanted him to and he’s in a really good place at the moment. The little issues he’s had can be managed as good as they can be. He’s going into the race at maybe 85% (fit) but if the real horse turns up on the day and he gets no bad luck he’ll be a winning chance. But I don’t think he’s going out there and just winning,” Nathan said.

Meanwhile Cran Dalgety thinks Aussie pacer Rock N Roll Doo (Rock N Roll Heaven) who shares the back mark with Don’t Stop Dreaming, is ready to go.

The gelding came over to New Zealand in April looking to race in The Race By Grins but that didn’t happen.

“When he got off the plane he was a wee bit off so he spent a bit of time at the Matamata Vet Clinic. He’s been revamped, and down here he’s had a preparation and two trials. The trials looked average but his steering was a bit off. We’d like to think we’ve fixed that so off we go to the races on Friday,” Dalgety said.

Getting Rock N Roll Doo to this point has been a challenge for the West Melton horseman who trains in partnership with his wife Chrissie.

“It hasn’t been smooth sailing but we’ve got him as fit as we can at base so he just needs to get the racing and game play fitness. Anthony (Butt) is coming over from Aussie and he wants to stick with him so hopefully I’ve got him ready to warrant his plane trip.”

The six year old currently sits in slot thirteen on the IRT New Zealand Cup leaderboard with the top fifteen eligible to run in the $1,000,000 3200 metre feature.

“We’d love to be there so that’s the game plan. He’s big, ugly and strong with a lot of stamina. When he won the Victoria Cup he just led from the outside of the gate, sat parked, eyeballed them all the way and went on to win. That’s the type of horse he is.”

Woodend trainers Greg and Nina Hope have two runners in the race – Homebush Lad (Mach Three) and Mossdale Ben (A Rocknroll Dance).

Each horse has had one start this campaign.

“Ben’s (Mossdale Ben) had no luck at all. With a clean run I expect him to be right in it. Homebush Lad just isn’t as potent on the clay. He’s working really well but he’s probably a better grass horse. In saying that we couldn’t be happier with his health and how he’s training.”

Princess Meritaten (A Rocknroll Dance) won her last race for her trainer Bob Butt. But she has some new opposition with the arrival in Canterbury of Mantra Blue (Sweet Lou) which will also contest the $60,000 Group Two Woodlands Stud Mares’ Spring Sprint.

“She’s (Mantra Blue) high class and going to be pretty hard to beat. In saying that I like my mare a lot too. So it’ll be a good race. That run tidied her up and she does improve with racing, Butt said.”

Princess Meritaten draws barrier eight with Mantra Blue one slot inside her.

“We’ll just have to see what happens in the first part of the race and make up our mind from there. My mare goes well with a sit or doing work.”

Butt says mares have been afforded the opportunity to race for some good money this spring.

“There’s another $60,000 race at Ashburton, $60,000 on Show Day and then the Queen Of Hearts ($100,000 13^th December) so it ‘s great for the mares.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink