By Duane Ranger
Some horses are as honest as the day is long and should never pay $22.30when they win their eighth-career start.
But that’s what happened at Alexandra Park last Friday night when the Amanda Kiddie trained Jo’s Dream dealt to her male opponents by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
Driven by Andre Poutama, the 5-year-old Gotta Go Cullect mare won the $14,999 IRT Mobile for the R72 to R90 pacers. She was the sixth favourite of eight and paced the 2200m mobile in 2:42.3 (mile rate 1:58.7) and came home in 55.7 and 27.8.
The warm favourite Alta Intrigue (David Butcher) was second.
Even though Jo’s Dream is now rocketing through the grades, Kiddie said she had no intention of either sending her to the broodmare’s paddock or taking her to Australia to compete.
“We don’t really make plans for her but there is plenty of racing coming up and she proved on Friday that she will be competitive even in next grade up.
“We are just going with the flow and enjoying every moment with her because we never ever thought she would end up as good as she is. It’s a thrill and everything from now on is a bonus. When she’s right she’s great and she seems to be getting better and stronger all time. She isn’tgetting sick as much,” Kiddie said.
Jo’s Dream did suffer from an a spider bite which diminishes her futureAustralian options.
“We did think about Australia, but we are in it for the fun. We prefer to have her close to home and be part of the action. She she gets sick with dust and stuff here, and got really sick from a white tail bite here in New Zealand. Imagine what an Australian spider would do to her,” Kiddie said.
Jo’s Dream has now won eight of her 39 starts and placed in 10 others for $85,799. She started racing under the guidance of Tony Grayling in June 2014. He had her for just one start.
Kiddie was working for Grayling at the time and took over the training duties when he went and worked for Woodlands Stud in late 2014.
Kiddie said she had no intentions of heading south with Jo’s Dream either.
“We will just stay close to home and place her where we can. When she’s 100 per cent right she can do anything. She always surprises us. She just loves to race and that’s what we intend doing with her.
“Her mother raced until she was eight and won her last start at Cambridge Raceway. ‘Jo’ will tell us when she has reached her mark, and had enough but at the moment she is still improving,” Kiddie said.
Kiddie has a quarter share in Jo’s dream with Lee-Anne Grayling and her Masterton breeders Graham and Jo Goodin.
Ironically Jo’s Dream was not named after MrsGoodin.
“My niece (Jo) named her, but sadly she passed away before Jo’s Dream was born. She originally wanted to call her Gotta Go Jo, or Jo’s Gotta Go, but the third choice was selected by Harness Racing New Zealand,” Goodin said.
Kiddie works a team of six at Pukekohe.
“I have couple quite nice ones coming through. The horses are my hobby as shoeing mostly pays my way. Way. I only have shares in couple for a change and am getting some great owners. I am excited to get their horses to races and see what they can do.
“We are still breeding from Jo’s Dream’s dam, Marylyne Bromac (by Washington V C – seven wins). Jo’s Dream was her first foal and I alsohave a nice Auckland Reactor yearling filly out of her name Touched By An Angel.
“She is just like ‘Jo’ when she was that age, but bit bigger and stronger. She has super attitude and great body on her, so I am excited to see where she will take us,” Kiddie said.
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