By Mike Love
A breathtaking display by Chase A Dream spearheaded a Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained trifecta in Tuesday’s Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes final at Addington.
Heading home We Walk By Faith and Major Hot, Chase A Dream made it his fourth win from six starts in a dazzling performance to secure his first Group One victory.
A hot pace early saw the Bettor’s Delight colt stalk the speed with driver Olivia Thornley, before making a move from the 800m. Chase A Dream made up at least a dozen lengths over the final 200m to just knock off stablemate We Walk By Faith, winning by a nose.
“It was amazing. Feels pretty surreal! said Thornley.
“It was an amazing effort to get up from where he did.”
Thornley’s cool and calm approach with Chase A Dream paid dividends.
“The original plan was to settle and get on the three wide line, but that didn’t happen. So I had to start my own three wide move and got onto the back of Barry Purdon’s one (Always B Elite) and we were able to get over the top of them late.”
Chase A Dream barrelled his final 800m in 54.5, the 400m in 26.6 and his last mile in 1:53, according to stridemaster.
Chase A Dream was Thornley’s sole drive of the day, and his victory made it Thornley’s second Group 1 success of her driving career after steering No Matter Wat to win the New Zealand Oaks back in December 2022.
The All Stars fourth representative Veseem was tenacious after setting up the speed, finishing fifth and only 1.3 lengths from Chase A Dream, while market favourite Cold Chisel for Barry Purdon finished fourth and only 0.3 away in what was a blanket finish.
Co-trainer Nathan Purdon couldn’t have been happier with his team’s performances. They are all likely to back up next month.
“We will look at Addington on December 1st before the Ace of Spades on December 10,” said Purdon.
