Darci's Dream Delightful

Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman prepared his 56th winner for the season when talented two-year-old filly Darci's Dream (Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby, by Van Nistelrooy) showed the fighting qualities of her sire to prevail in the Ascot Farm 2YO 1000 metres on Feb. 14 at Te Aroha.

Owned by the Fortuna Darci's Dream Syndicate (manager John Galvin), Darci's Dream was the second winner in quick succession for Fortuna Syndications after Sir Darci (Darci Brahma) scored stylishly two days earlier at Ellerslie.

“It was a real dogfight and very satisfying,” said Galvin, after Darci's Dream, with Matt Cameron aboard, had raced outside the leader and staved off challengers in a close four-way finish.

Darci's Dream had spelled following a solid debut run for sixth over 880 metres in October at Ellerslie, and indicated her readiness to resume with a smart trial win, in the fastest of nine 800-metre heats for the two-year-olds, on Feb. 4 at Avondale.

“She's won two trials and her first race day effort she was just going through a bit of a growth spurt, so we gave her a break and it's really paid dividends for her,” said Galvin.

“She's turning into a nice horse.

“She will have a go at some of the nice two-year-old targets later in the autumn, for sure,” said Galvin. “We bought this horse at last year's Karaka Sale, and we bought the full-sister at this year's Karaka Sale as well, so I think we will have a lot of fun with her as a two-year-old but she will furnish up into a nice three-year-old as well."

Sweet Dreams Baby is proving to be a promising producer, not only through the deeds of Darci's Dream but also her year older half-brother Forever Ahead (Saperavi) who showed ability when being educated and trialled by Jason Bridgman, at Matamata, before notching a win, third, and fourth, from only four starts for Te Akau trainer Mark Walker in Singapore.

A mare by the athletic stallion Van Nistelrooy (Storm Cat), Sweet Dreams Baby has the notable British sire Diesis (Sharpen Up) and American stallion Woodman (Mr. Prospector) featuring as maternal dam sires and she includes the Champion sire Danehill Dancer (Danehill) in her family.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz