Chase A Dream Soars to Breathtaking Group One Win

A phenomenal performance to win the $147,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes Final (1980m) propelled Chase A Dream (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) and driver Olivia Thornley into New Zealand Cup Day stardom.

Thornley and the NZB Standardbred graduate produced a performance that many said had to be seen to be believed to win at Addington on Tuesday.

From the toughest possible draw, Chase The Dream gave the leaders a massive start when he was last with a lap to go.

But the Mark and Nathan Purdon trained two-year-old defied the odds when somehow willing himself to an incredible victory.

Chase The Dream did so when flashing to the line with a late surge, with Thornley admitting she wasn’t sure she had won.

“He was absolutely amazing,” the reinswoman said.

“I thought the three-wide line would start and it didn’t, so I thought I would just have to start it myself.”

“I got a bit of cover down the back which was perfect.”

“I honestly didn’t think I had won but he just laid it all on the track.”

The Purdon stable has given Thornley the opportunity to drive some its biggest stars recently, all of which are NZB Standardbred graduates.

After guiding Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Millwood Nike (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) to emphatic wins, the junior driver produced a gem of drive to win with Chase A Dream.

“It's just as a phenomenon, I can't thank Mark and Nathan and all the owners enough for allowing me to drive these horses.”
“I'm just glad to be able to repay the faith.”

The Group One Sires Stakes Final was dominated by NZB Standardbred graduate.

Incredibly, the stellar field of 13 runners was made up of 12 horses who have passed through the NZB Standardbred sales ring.

Major Hot (NZ) (Art Major), ran a gallant third ahead of Cold Chisel (NZ) (Always B Miki) ahead of Vessem (NZ) (Vincent), Hadron Collider (NZ) (Sweet Lou) and Always B Elite (NZ) (Always B Miki).