Dreams Are Free impresses

The well bred Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) had to show a good blend of speed and tenacity to win by the barest of margins at the Winton Harness Racing Club meeting today (Sep. 23).

On debut, the half brother to New Zealand Derby winner Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) drew the outside of the fromline while favourite Rustenburg (Captaintreacherous) drew a better marble at one on the second row.

Driver Nathan Williamson stayed out of trouble but was three wide for the first 500 metres before slotting into the outside running line on the back of the favourite. Driver Craig Ferguson pulled Rustenburg three wide just before the turn with Dreams Are Free hot on his tail. Just before the front runners flattened out for the run home Williamson came off Rustenburg’s back and the two went head to head all the way down the straight with Dreams Are Free just getting there.

“Overall they didn’t go overly quick, but they sprinted hard. We were really flying from the 400. He had to show good speed to do it and I was thrilled he had it.”

The margin at the end was half a head.

“I knew it was extremely tight. Craig’s cart was ahead of me and his horse is a pretty big one too. I didn’t think we got there.”

The winning time was 1-58.5 with the last 400 metres run in a sizzling 26.8 seconds.

DREAMS ARE FREE REPLAY

Winning salute (Bruce Stewart – Photo)

Dreams Are Free was bought by Rakauhauka farmer Brendon Fahy at the NZB Standardbred Christchurch Sale for $60,000.

“Brendon spotted him at the sales and obviously Don’t Stop Dreaming hadn’t raced. Being by Captaintreacherous he was quite keen to buy him and got him.”

Williamson says Dreams Are Free hasn’t been that straight forward in getting to the races.

“He’s had a couple of workouts and just got stressed for whatever reason. It was three weeks between the runs (workouts) so that’s pretty rare and he’s taken that amount of time to get over them.”

He added that Dreams Are Free is not a natural two year old.

“He’ll be better when he gets a bit older. We’re looking forward to racing him in races like the Supremacy. That type of racing. I told the boys he’d be ready for today. We’re just taking him quietly and I think he’ll reward us later on.”

The gelding is raced by Fahy and the Dreams Are Free Syndicate which was put together by Fahy’s son- in-law Jimmy Sinclair.

“It’s great to have a great bunch of guys in the horse and they went and bought another one this year.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink