Robert Dennis already has the leader in the Southern Cups Bonus Series in Loftys Gift, but it was another member of his stable, Sacred Dream (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who took out the penultimate race on Sunday, the Caldwell Contracting Wyndham Cup (2000m).
Loftys Gift won last Saturday’s Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui, and in her absence at Gore, that gave other runners an opportunity to gain points before she returns for the Riverton Cup (2147m) next month.
Ascot Park-based Dennis had Sacred Dream, Vino Valentino and Stolen Magic engaged in the feature, with the latter starting a $6 favourite over Prince Alby ($6.50) and Sacred Dream ($7). From the inside draw, Sacred Dream started well in the hands of Akshay Balloo, settling three-back on the fence as Stolen Magic took up the front-running role.
Stolen Magic maintained a solid tempo along the back straight before the field began to compress, with Sacred Dream coming off the fence to follow the back of an improving Proserve. On straightening, the pair started to fight out the finish, with Sacred Dream getting the better of Proserve at 50m and pulling clear to score by two lengths. Prince Alby, who had been last through the mid-stages, charged home into third position.
Balloo has been riding in career-best form, earning a winning double on Wednesday at Riccarton Park before partnering both Sacred Dream and He’s Tiketiboo to victories at the Gore meeting.
“She (Sacred Dream) is a very genuine little filly, there is nothing bad about her,” he said. “She jumped well, put herself in the race quite sensibly and she relaxed beautifully.
“She was just waiting for me to give her the next instruction, and halfway through the race, I saw Tina (Comignaghi, jockey of Proserve) was making her run, so it was perfect timing to take her back and use that all the way into the straight.
“I got into the straight and asked her the question, and her ears went back and she’s powered through the line.
“A big thank you to everyone that is supporting me, I wouldn’t be here without them. I’ve had my hiccups here and there through injury, but fingers crossed I’m catching a bit of momentum going forward. I don’t know how long this will last knowing the racing game, but I’m going to make the most of it.
“We’ll see what’s next for me down the road.”
Dennis was rapt with the result, particularly for the large ownership group who had raced the daughter of Sacred Falls since she joined his stable in late 2023.
“It’s massive, I used to work a lot of horses out at Wyndham when I was training at the Dennis Brothers barn, so it’s nice to win this,” he said.
“There’s about 60-odd owners in this horse and a big thank you to John Newman who stayed in the ownership group and leased her down to us.
“She’s only going to get better into next season too, she’s getting a little bit stronger all the time as she gets older and continues to improve. She was a bit unlucky in the Invercargill Cup, Sam Wynne (jockey) said she was basically outridden and today there was no bad luck going her way.
“She’s been up a while, but the logical next step is the Riverton Cup. We’ll just get her home and go from there.”
The victory was Sacred Dream’s fifth in 30 starts, having recorded wins from 1200m up to 2000m. During her time in the care of Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman, the mare had also finished fourth in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and fifth in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m).
Bred by Newman, she was the final foal out of an unraced Dream Well mare Dream Lass, who also produced Group Three performer Dreamcatcher.
Lofty’s Gift still sits comfortably atop of the Southern Cups Bonus Series with eight points, followed by Sacred Dream, Smooth Operator, Noble Knight and In Vegas, all on 5. The Riverton Cup is the all-important event, with double points on offer to the first four placegetters. At the completion of the series, a $50,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning owners.
