Phenomenal!

Chase A Dream’s (Captaintreacherous) win in the Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes final on Cup Day at Addington today (Nov. 14) is one that will live in the memories of harness racing pundits for a long time.

From a wide draw, driver Olivia Thornley had no option but to take the two year old colt back when the gate left the 1980 metre dispatch.

Coming round the bend the first time, commentator Matt Cross thought Chase A Dream was thirty to thirty-five metres behind stablemate Vessem (Vincent) who had taken up the role of pacemaker. And even when the field was running for the finish line Chase A Dream still had lengths to make up.

Running along the inside, We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight) looked to have secured the win. But Chase A Dream came storming down the outside of the track to get up by a nose.

“It was an absolutely amazing run to come from where he did to pick them up,” Thornley said.

The winning margin was a nose with another nose back to another All-Stars runner Major Hot, (Art Major) making it a Purdon trifecta.

“I was a bit weary because there was no three-wide line early. So we just started our own, and he just proved too strong in the end.”

The win continues Thornley’s magnificent big race form and she’s thankful for the strong support of the Purdon partnership.

“I am just so grateful to Mark and Nathan and all the owners who’ve been giving me the opportunities I’ve been getting.”

Co-trainer Nathan Purdon was complimentary in return, of his young driver.

“She’s doing a great job, Liv. She’s on fire. She has great form and the horses really run for her and let down. She’s so light and so kind on them so it’s great to see her get success.”

 The win was a busy watch for Nathan who had three horses in the picture close to the finish line.

“You don’t know where to look when you’ve got so many in the race. There’s not a lot between five or six of those two year olds in that race and a lot of it comes down to the run.”

He feels Chase A Dream has appreciated the extended season.

“He was a progressive horse who wasn’t always that good, but he has gotten better. Olivia and Alison Ward have done a lot of work with him and they deserve a lot of credit for the performance.”

This was Nathan’s first experience as a trainer on Cup Day and he admits to being anxious when watching his runners go round.

“It’s such a big day and you put so much work into them. You just really hope they go really well and I think they all put their best foot forward, which is a big relief.”

And reckons Chase A Dream will be an even better horse next season.

“Mentally he wasn’t very mature early and he has grown a lot in this preparation. I think when he has a spell and strengthens up a bit he’ll be quite a nice horse.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink