Stunning return for Amazing Dream

NATHAN Purdon and Anthony Butt have some convincing to do after Amazing Dream’s powerhouse winning return in last night’s $80,000 Group 2 Kilmore Cup.

It was the fifth time the champion mare has beaten the boys in an elite level race and she did so against her preferred racing style, coming three-wide without cover for the last 1000m and refusing to lay down.

It’s now straight to the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Bendigo on October 9 where she looks the only genuine threat to King Of Swing.

But Purdon and Butt hope the Victoria Cup will be one of just many Group 1 targets in coming months.

That hinges on the US-based syndicate who now owns the mare.

Although Amazing Dream (Bettor’s Delight) has been nominated for the NSW Inter Dominion series, at this stage she’ll be on a plane to the US before that final is run.

“Some of her new owners want her across in the States, so we’ll have to try and twist some arms to try and keep her here a bit longer,” Purdon said.

Butt added: “I really hope she stays a few months longer, she could have a fantastic summer.”

She could potentially stay until mid-March and take in races like the Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile.

Despite being first-up for a couple of months, Amazing Dream was simply too strong and classy for her rivals after doing much of the work over the 2690m at Kilmore.

She became just the second mare to win the Kilmore Cup since it started in 1964. The other was Make Mine Cullen in 2010.

“It’s not really her go to do that (come wide without cover so far from home), but it was an amazing performance to sit out there and still win,” Butt said.

“She’s won so many big races beating the boys, which is so rare.

“She flies under the radar a bit, but her record says it all.”

Purdon was in awe of her tenacity when the classy Mach Dan came strongly at Amazing Dream in the last 150m.

“She always just finds a way and that’s what makes her such a top mare,” he said.

“I had her very fit, but I knew the run would bring her on that little more again.

“When that horse came at her, after the work she’d done, I knew she’d find, but that was a huge win.

“She goes straight to the Victoria Cup now and will improve that little bit more again off what she did tonight.”

It was yet another hugely important win for Purdon, who moved from NZ to make Lara, 45 minutes outside Melbourne, home earlier this year.

Amazing Dream’s heroics in Queensland were just what Purdon needed, but to have the mare return and win the Kilmore Cup is just as important.

View the Kilmore results click here!

by Adam Hamilton