By Tayler Strong
Trainer Graeme Anderson and junior driver Rory McIlwrick had a 100 per cent record with two dazzling winners, Hopes and Dreams and Arden’s Concord, at the Oamaru meeting on Sunday.
Both won in similar style over 2600m from the mobile gate. Arden’s Concord led for the last 1900m and had a five and a half length advantage at the finish. Hopes And Dreams led from the 2100m and won by three lengths. Arden’s Concord ran 3.15.6 (2.01 mile rate) and Hopes and Dreams, 3.15.2.
Arden’s Concord has now won five races. Hopes And Dreams has had two wins and a second in three starts since transferring to the Anderson stable for beach training at Westwood in June. She also won last season as a 3-year-old for Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight.
A daughter of Christian Cullen and grand race mare One Dream and a $50,000 premier yearling purchase, she is now realizing her potential. Neville Cleaver, of Invercargill who races her with Kevin Strong said she was following the same path as Onedin Mach, who regained winning form when he transferred him to Anderson. Onedin Mach won eight for Nathan Williamson and two for Anderson before being sold to the United States in 2015. Cleaver said both horses had strained hocks.
Phil Williamson trained the winners of both races for trotters, The Silver Fox and Sam Galleon. The Silver Fox was driven by Blair Orange who had his previous win for the Williamson stable behind Lets Get Serious in the Four-Year-Old Trotters Championship at Addington in 2006.
Hayden Galway had his first win as a trainer and owner when I’m A Dreamer cleared C0 ranks. Galway (28) took out a licence last season to prepare two horses at Leeston. The other is Classie Margaret who was twice placed in three starts as a 3-year-old in July.
Galway worked for two years for Weedons trainer Jamie Gameson. His grandfather Ray Paget and great grandfather, John Docherty trained horses. Galway bought I’m A Dreamer as a 2-year-old from Brian West, of Studholme Bloodstock. “She was a December foal and a big filly needing time,’’ said Galway who races the 4-year-old daughter of Art Official – Simply Devine with his father, Anthony and Megan Earl. I’m A Dreamer was having her second start. She is a half sister to Start Dreaming, winner of the group two Robin Dundee Stakes at Menangle in 1.51.9 in February. Another half sister, Its My Style won four races in Australia. I’m A Dreamer is the third foal of Simply Devine.
Trainer Brent White and driver Stephen McNally combined for their 50th win when Lindsay Castleton trounced his rivals in a C0 trot. He led for the last 1300m and won by six and a half lengths. White and McNally had their first win with Cassino Woman at a Timaru meeting in 2007. Trouble Rieu, Sell A Bit and Elios have been good winners for the combo. Lindsay Castleton, a 5yr-old by Sundon from Anna Castleton, is a half brother to four winners including Castletonian (Sires’ Stakes Championship for 2-year-old trotters at two) and Juneamy Castleton. Lindsay Castleton is raced by Waimate breeders Lex and Heather Williams. Lex is out of action with a fractured vertebra.
Stoney Eyre, having his first start for Chertsey trainer Garry Bates, led throughout his first race for seven months. Bates took over the training of Stoney Eyre after the 5-year-old was bought by a group of owners including Bates’ wife, Liz in July. Stoney Eyre had a win at Oamaru 12 months earlier from 14 starts when trained by part-owner Craig Kennedy at Cust.
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