Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) Simply Unstoppable in Group Three Junior Free-For-All

Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) left no doubt about his status as New Zealand’s best three-year-old pacing colt with his dominant win in the $39,000 TAB Group Three Junior Free-For-All (2600m) on New Zealand Cup Day.

The NZB Standardbred graduate even had the luxury of being able to get the speed wobbles before powering away from a strong field in the Addington feature.

Don’t Stop Dreaming put in some rough early steps soon after the start, which had some of his backers in the Addington crowd gasping.

But knowing his star horse so well, Nathan Purdon who trains Don’t Stop Dreaming with his father Mark, wasn’t even slightly concerned.

“Dad said they were just going that fast when the gate left that he got a bit rough in his gait,” Nathan said.
“He is such a good pacer that I knew he wouldn’t do that for long, he is the sort of horse that will come back down pretty quickly, so I wasn’t worried too much.”

Purchased by the All Stars Racing Stables for $250,000 out of Studholme Bloodstock’s draft at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch.

The pacer’s victory only shortened his favouritism for next month’s Group One New Zealand Derby (2600m) at Addington.

“He will go to the Ian Dobson race at Addington next month before going straight into the derby,” Nathan said.

Don’t Stop Dreaming’s powerful Junior-Free-For-All win came in his first attempt over the 2600m New Zealand Derby distance.

NZB Standardbred graduates dominated the Junior Free-For-All with their trifecta in the first feature event on New Zealand Cup Day.

After trailing the winner throughout, Cya Art (NZ) (Art Major) chased Don’t Stop Dreaming hard in the home straight with the pair running sizzling closing sectionals.

Don’t Stop Dreaming’s archrival Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) rallied well to take third placing in the Group Three event.

Don’t Stop Dreaming’s win came just three days after his little half-brother Dreams Are Free (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) won a minor event at Wyndham.

Also an NZB Standardbred graduate sold by Studholme Bloodstock, the two-year-old has shown immense talent in just three race starts.

The Purdon stable completed a New Zealand Cup Day double when producing NZB Standardbred graduate Franco Indie (NZ) (Always B Miki) to win immediately after Don’t Stop Dreaming’s brilliant display.