WINNER: Delightful Dream

Having developed into an outstanding mare, Dream Of The Moon (5 m All Too Hard – Moonchild, by Charge Forward) won the $75,000 Dakins Group Premier Open Handicap 1400 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

A stakes' winner who has also twice Group placed, Dream Of The Moon clocked a slick 600m sectional (32.7) when closing strongly from beyond midfield for fourth in Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) on the course last Saturday, and rated a top three chance from barrier two. 

Ridden by leading jockey Michael McNab, Dream Of The Moon bided her time in midfield, travelled well behind runners inside the 600m and continued mounting a strong finish to get through and score. 

“I think with more luck she might have run second here last Saturday, but she’s built off that to win well today,” McNab said. 

“She built into it nicely and when she got the split she felt like winning and dug in well.”

On footing upgraded to Soft5, Dream Of The Moon ran 1400 metres in 1:23.7, last 600m in 34.7 (approx.), paid $3.40 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote, and has now recorded all four of her career wins at Riccarton. 

“It was a beautiful ride of Michael’s and the winning of the race was at the 700m when he got her off the fence,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“She required a bit of luck in the straight and needed to shift ground to get clear, but went through strongly to win. She deserved the win. She’s always been a good filly and mare, and she seems to find her form as the weather gets warmer. 

“She has shown she is not an early Spring horse, but with the win under her belt she should continue to hold her form through the Summer and into Autumn.”

Assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, who oversees the Te Akau stable where Dream Of The Moon is trained at Riccarton, said: “We’ve always known she was quality, but she just needed a couple of runs to get there in this prep.

“She trialled up well, but raced a touch below her best until this week. She ran really well last Saturday in the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes and backed up well to win.”

Owned by the Te Akau Moon Dreaming Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MZNM), Dream Of The Moon was purchased by Sir David Ellis for A$160,000 at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Glenbeigh Farm.

“She was a brilliant winner as a two-year-old, up to the best of her age at two and three, was a big winner in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) as an autumn three-year-old, and she really has matured into a terrific looking mare,” said Sir David, on course. 

“It’s a thrill to see so many happy owners here enjoying the win. Last night we had an owner’s function in Christchurch, with well over 50 South Island owners there, and it’s great how much they appreciate the wonderful job that Hunter Durrant and our team are doing here.

“It’s great to have Michael (McNab) on. He’s been doing a lot of riding for us and is certainly in great form.”

The Australian Champion Three-Year-Old, her sire All Too Hard is a half-brother to unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), who won all 25 of her starts including 15 Group One's. 

Winning three times as a two-year-old, All Too Hard won three Group One races over 1400 metres in Australia: All Aged Stakes, Futurity Stakes, C. F. Orr Stakes, and has now made his mark as a sire.

Dream Of The Moon is from an unraced mare by Charge Forward (Red Ransom), an extremely talented Group One winning racehorse that was sought for stallion duties at Arrowfield Stud.  Her grand-dam Flowerchild, winner of three races to 1250 metres, is by Champion Sire and Broodmare Sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), and her third dam North Flower is by legendary Australian sire Rory’s Jester (Crown Jester). 

Dream Of The Moon carries a Danehill cross through the sire line of All Too Hard and dam-line of Moonchild.

Dream Of The Moon was strapped by Ruby Rae-Wood. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz