Don’t Stop Dreaming to head forward in The Christian Cullen

Nathan Purdon says there is only one tactic for Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) in tonight’s first running of the $200,000 The Christian Cullen at Addington.

And they are the exact tactics the great champion pacer himself employed so many times: lead and stay there.

Co-trainer Purdon says he and Blair Orange will be heading for the front after Don’t Stop Dreaming drew barrier 1 and most importantly arch rival Merlin drew barrier six of the seven starters.

There has rarely been much between the pair but for the majority of 2024 Merlin has had the better of Don’t Stop Dreaming, most notably in the $1million Race by Grins when he came from the one-one to beat him.

But if Don’t Stop Dreaming leads this week in a race that lacks the depth to have real pressure, Merlin may be forced to sit outside him the last 1000m to beat him.

That is how Merlin won the NZ Free-For-All last start so it isn’t impossible but Don’t Stop Dreaming was allowed to miss that race after his oh-so-close second to Swayzee in the New Zealand Cup three days earlier.

“We learned last year with Akuta after he chased Swayzee home in the Cup then ran three or four lengths below his best in the Free-For-All that we didn’t need to do that again,” explains Nathan.

“But he is very well and missing the race did him some good. We took him into Addington last Saturday and he worked great.

“I think he is exactly where he needs to be and we want to lead and if Merlin or any of the others beat him then they will have been too good.”

The TAB has Don’t Stop Dreaming as a $1.75 favourite with Merlin at $2.20.

Later in the night the NZ Derby is a clash of those same two stables at the top of the market as Nathan and Mark Purdon have Chase A Dream and Vessem up against Better Knuckle Up and Jeremiah for the Merlin camp.

While Chase A Dream has been beaten fair and square in his last two starts Nathan expects a better performance tonight.

“I think he has needed the racing and you will see a better horse this week,” he warns.

For complete race entries, click here

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand