Dreams Are Free showcases his immense talent

While most of the pre-race talk was around Chase A Dream and Cold Chisel, last night Southland trained Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) stamped himself as a serious player for some of the big three year old features on the harness racing calendar.

On a wet night at Alexandra Park Dreams Are Free, for the first time racing on a right hand track and under lights, was just too good for his rivals and he did it the tough way. From barrier four he was left to face the breeze with Major Hot in charge of the pace.

Chase A Dream who trailed the pacemaker and Cold Chisel who sat behind Dreams Are Free each had their chances, but could not match the southerner.

Dreams Are Free’s winning margin was one and a half lengths from Cold Chisel finishing second. The last 800 cut out in 58.6 and the 400 in 27.4.

“That was his first run for a few months so the run should bring him on,” trainer Nathan Williamson said.

Dreams Are Free had the audacity to prick his ears as he ran down to the finish line.

“He’s a super talented horse and we’ve just been waiting the whole time. There’s no hiding the fact that I wasn’t overly thrilled with him, but we just had to be patient. Since we’ve been in Auckland his work’s turned around and he’s given me the right signs that he was in a real happy place.”

DREAMS ARE FREE REPLAY

Dream Are Free is owned by southern owner Brendan Fahy and the Dreams Are Free Syndicate.

“They’re absolutely thrilled and excited about running in the Northern Derby next week.”

Right from the start Williamson has identified the talent the colt has but has had to manage his training and racing schedules.

“We don’t want to do anything detrimental. We want to manage him so he can reach the very highest level.”

Meanwhile Williamson was happy with his two other runners, Flying Ellie and Ruby Roe on Ladyship night.

Flying Ellie finished third in a ratings race behind the Arna Donnelly pair of Jolimont and The Surfer.

“She sped off the arm and then they went quite slow. She just battled that last wee bit but in saying that she got down in that passing lane, it was wet down there, and it was just a sprint home. To be fair the winner is a very smart horse who finished fourth in the Derby. She had a good blow and has probably thrived the most since we’ve been up here.”

Ruby Roe’s run for third in the Caduceus Club Three Year Old Fillies Ladyship had plenty of merit as she closed in late to just miss second.

“I thought she was really really good. She kept coming right to the line in what was her first run under the lights and in wet conditions. She’ll come on nicely from the run.”

Ruby Roe and Flying Ellie head to the $110,000 Group One Northern Oaks this Friday and both should be suited to the 2700 metre trip.

Last night’s win was not a first at Alexandra Park for the Branxholme trainer. He won with Kiwitrix in May 2021.

Nathan has driven a handful of winners at the Park including Springbank Richard in the 2009 Rowe Cup.

The performances of the Williamson team highlight the quality of stock the Southland trainer has and his team’s competitiveness at the higher level. Auckland is not a bad place to be showcasing that.

“It’s always nice to feature in those types of events. It’s a long way from Invercargill to Auckland but the job’s not done yet. We just have to maintain them and get some results next week.”

Williamson who’s driving at the Wyndham meeting today, plans to head north again tomorrow after the Wyndham Workouts.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink