Dreamalittledream gets market drifts before the win
Quality mare Dreamalittledream defied an incredible betting drift to win the Ladbrokes Popular SRM Pace (1800m) at Globe Derby Park on Monday.
After opening at $1.80, the six-year-old mare had drifted to $2.90 when the mobile drew away at the start.
Punters preferred Nicely Spoken, from barrier one, which firmed from $4.20 into $2.50 favourite for trainer-driver Samantha Hill.
However, it was her husband Wayne Hill, driving Dreamalittledream for Gawler trainer Peter Bain, which dashed up the sprint lane to grab victory by a metre.
Nicely Spoken, which had led, held on for second, with Lochinvar Camaro ($51), 2-1/2 metres away third.
Aaron Bain, manager of ABR Bloodstock, the principal owner of Dreamalittledream, said the mare was capable of reaching fast class in South Australia.
“She has now won seven of her 10 starts since coming across from New Zealand,” Bain said.
“I thought her run in the recent Kevin & Kay Seymour Feature was very good.
“She had gate three on the second row, had to go back to the tail of the field, then got held up three times when making a run.
“She is not the type of mare where you can start and stop when making a run.
“Today’s race proved perfect for her.
“Coming from one of the second row, Wayne (Hill) was able to trail through and sit on the leader.
“There was a good speed contest for the early lead, then mid-race pressure up front and all the while Dreamalittledream was in a comfortable spot.
“When the sprint lane opened, she dashed through to win well.”
Bain said Dreamalittledream was a versatile mare.
“She has excellent gate speed if she draws the front and equally is just as good as a sit-sprinter.”
The Hahn Super Dry Pace (1800m) proved to be a battle of the octogenarians.
Linxx ($5.50), trained by 82-year-old Keith Routley, arrived to score a head win from Martys Party ($31), trained and driven by 89-year-old John Lee.
The youngster in the win was reinsman Jason Kittel who is just 21.
Routley said Linxx had a two-year drought after winning at Mildura on December 4, 2023.
“His win for me at Port Pirie on December 23 was his first since Mildura,” Routley said.
“Now he has won two in a row.
“I’ve only had him since August, but he has been racing well and paying his way.”
Lee was lamenting the photo-finish less.
“I went 10 metres too soon,” Lee said.
Another “elder statesman’ winner was 13-year-old Golden Jaylet in the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (2230m).
Former schoolteacher Kathryn Pickering has just the one horse in work, and the pair are best mates.
Golden Jaylet ($7.50), driven by Danielle Hill, sat outside the leader Don’t Tell Alice ($8) before drawing clear to win by 4-1/2 metres from the fast-finishing React To Beauty ($4.80) with the front runner coming third, a neck away third.
Pickering said she was considering retiring Golden Jaylet if he had not stepped up today.
“He has been a wonderful horse, and friend, for seven years, but I know he is close to the end of his racing career,” Pickering said.
“I joked with him today that I would be happy if he could run a place as I need a new pair of shoes. He did even better by winning.”
Trainer-driver Kevin Weidenbach has had a good season with Amira Marie, a comfortable winner of the Bargain Steel Centre Pace (1800m).
A smart drive by Weidenbach saw Amira Marie ($6) win by eight metres from My Ultimate Harry ($7) with Ohso Kinky ($1.70 into $1.28 fav), four metres away third.
Ohso Kinky led from gate three but was pressure by Road Star ($31) which began quickly from barrier six, and driver Danielle Hill decided not to get into a speed battle and allowed the roughie to go to the front.
Weidenbach quickly moved Amira Marie up alongside the leader, then sent her for home coming off the back while the favourite was held up behind the tiring leader. It proved to be a winning move.
Weidenbach said the winner had started her career in Victoria but had come to South Australia to try and win a race.
“Today was her sixth win with seven placings so she has done a good job,” Weidenbach said.
“She loves racing and I can back her up almost weekly. She has done a great job.”
Hereforagoodtime notched up career win 12 with an all-the-way victory in the Ladbrokes Big Bets Pace (1800m).
A $5 chance, the six-year-old found the front easily for driver Wayne Hill, then was rated perfectly to score by a neck from Feisty Jane ($3.20 fav) with Trailblazer ($3.50),
- GRAHAM FISCHER
- Photo Walter Bulyga