Both started in the 20 meter handicap and while Always Dreaming got away with a flyer, Wag Star bombed the start and lost a conservative thirty meters before getting into his hopples.
With one lap to go, driver Matty Williamson took Always Dreaming to the front as he wanted to make things more difficult for Wag Star, who was stuck at the back of the field.
With 800 meters to run, Wag Star’s driver Craig Ferguson moved forward to sit parked outside Always Dreaming.
In the 400, the two went to battle, leaving the chasing group in their wake.
At the line, Always Dreaming was three-quarters of a length over Wag Star with Macandrew Aviator eight-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
ALWAYS DREAMING REPETITION
“It was a great run from Wag Star as he missed, he had to get alongside us, they went together and it was an exciting finish,” said winning trainer Nathan Williamson.
The time of 2-54.6 was a new race record, lowering Robyn’s 2023 Playboy time of 2-55.7.
The time was just outside Eamon Maguire’s New Zealand record of 2-54.2, set at Ashburton in 2018.
“I’m not a good race watcher, but I’m getting better. It was good to see him win. He’s a beautiful horse. He performs calmly and just keeps doing his job.”
The four-year-old gelding is raced by the Nine Three Syndicate, Chris Alcock and the Nude Again Syndicate. He has now won nine races and is approaching $160,000 in earnings.
“His targets are the Country Cups races in the next few months. He’s been chasing Marketplace and Got The Chocolates a bit and he’s been told that. I think it’s toughened him up a bit. I think the longer distances will suit the likes of the Wyndham Cup over 3200m and the 2700m around Invercargill (Northern Southland Cup) because he’s a good stayer,” said Williamson.
For full race results, click here.
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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