Chase gets home by a nose

Co-trainer Nathan Purdon was on the money when he said harness racing colt Chase A Dream (Captaintreacherous) was in a good place leading into the $160,000 Group One Garrards Sires’ Stakes Series Final at Addington tonight.

As expected there were fireworks early, with both Cold Chisel and Hadron Collider hunted out. When the grit settled, Hadron Collider took up the role of pacemaker with favourite Chase A Dream finally settling parked, before stablemate We Walk By Faith came around giving Chase A Dream the one one.

As the field levelled out for the business end of the great race, Chase A Dream had to draw on all his courage to get past We Walk By Faith, getting there by a nose with a half a length back to Cold Chisel.

“Credit to the guy, he just keeps digging and always has a go.”

“I’ve never known them to crawl along in the Sires’ Stakes and not make it a true run race and a competitive race,” winning driver Natalie Rasmussen told Trackside.

CHASE A DREAM REPLAY

The winning time was a smart 2-22.7 with the last mile run in 1-56.8. The race and New Zealand record for the 1980 metre mobile of 2-19.0 is held by 2018 winner Ultimate Machete.

“They are such an even bunch. He’s such a high speed horse that’s been a bit lucky here and there,” she continued.

Trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon, Chase A Dream has now won nine races and tonight’s victory was the colt’s second Group One. As a two year old he won the Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes Final at Addington.

The colt is raced by Brian West of Studholme Bloodstock who bred him, Carol Gimblett, Gillian Borlase and Karen Gimblett.

Tonight’s achievement is the All Stars tenth consecutive win in this feature and Rasmussen joins Mark Purdon as the most successful driver in the forty year history of the race, with six wins apiece.

The success comes on the back of Mark’s announcement today that he’s taking a step back from training and will be relocating to Matamata in the near future.

The sixty year old says he feels all good things must come to an end and will leave Rolleston without regrets.

“I’ve felt that physically it has become a little harder and maybe I have lost that sharp edge of the enthusiasm you need to run a big team. Nathan is going so well in his own right, and Michael too. It’s the right time to step back from a hands on role,” he stated on the stable’s website.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink