Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Erratic behaviour prevented Starlight Dream from racing as a two and three-year-old, but the now seven-year-old mare looks set to win many more races.
Byford trainer Donald Harper has Starlight Dream racing with considerable verve, and she was most impressive when she thundered home from the rear to win the 2130m Westral Roller Shutters Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
That was her eighth win from 15 starts for earnings of $49,049 for owner-breeder Alex Treasure.
Starlight Dream was the $3 favourite from out wide at barrier No. 8, with Harper happy to settle her at the rear while the polemarker Maddy Rocks ($7) was setting the pace with Lady Prima Donna ($6.50) in the breeze.
The early tempo was moderate, and Starlight Dream appeared to face a tough assignment when she was in eleventh position with a lap to travel. Harper sent the mare forward, three wide at the 600m, and she was four wide 270m from home before she sprouted wings to take the lead at the 60m mark and win by just under two lengths from the $41 chance Champagne Style, who trailed the pacemaker all the way.
The final quarters were run in 28.3sec. and 29.6sec. and Starlight Dream’s sizzling finishing burst was reminiscent of the dazzling late bursts of her dam Dreams Daughter, who earned $122,052 from eight wins and 19 placings from 51 starts. She was driven in all her starts by Treasure’s son Tony.
Starlight Dream is by former star pacer Alta Christiano and is the first foal out of Dreams Daughter, who was bred by Alex Treasure.
“I had a free service to Crouch, and I bred Dreams Daughter from Perene Dream, who was a gift from the late Percy Johnson,” said Treasure.
But it then wasn’t all plain sailing, with Starlight Dream proving a major handful for Treasure.
“She refused to go around the track at Byford and she always would just run out of the gate,” said Treasure. “No matter what I did I couldn’t sort her out, and one morning, as a three-year-old, she went sideways out of the gate and almost tipped me out. So, I said ‘that’s it.’
“I was offered $3000 for her, but I decided against selling her. Instead, I gave her to Donald to train, and he was able to get her to settle down and was able to get her to make her debut as a four-year-old. Now, there’s no trouble with her.”
The 80-year-old Treasure was a capable reinsman 50-odd years ago, with his most notable victory being with Captain Armbro in the 1974 Golden Slipper. He also won numerous races with Captain Forlese and Captain Elect.
Starlight Dream’s win on Friday night gave the 36-year-old Harper his 205TH training success, and it was his 398TH win as a driver in an excellent career highlighted by the deeds of brilliant sprinter Hayton Brain, a pacer he trained and drove for two Group 2 and four Group 3 victories.