Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
The decision of Henley Brook trainer-reinsman Robbie Williams to add Dolly Vardon blinkers paved the way for Brickies Dream’s splendid victory in the $50,000 Christmas Gift at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I haven’t had them on lately because we didn’t have the opportunity to use him off the gate,” explained Williams. “I put the blinkers on tonight and the plan was to jump to the front (from barrier four).
“Brickies Dream has always had blistering gate speed and when this field came out, I felt that this was the time to put the blinkers on and ask him to come out of the gate.
“They weren’t going to hold him, and once I got there (to the front) and was able to back off with a 31sec. first quarter I was happy.”
Brickies Dream, an $18.30 chance on the tote and $26 on the fixed market, zoomed straight to the front and after a smart lead time of 36.2sec. he relaxed with an opening 800m of the final mile in 60.5sec. He then sprinted over the final quarters in 27.4sec. and 28.4sec. to win by a half length from $5.50 chance Ventura, who finished strongly from fifth at the bell.
Brickies Dream, a five-year-old New Zealand-bred pacer, has been lightly raced, and now has a fine record of 32 starts for eleven wins, ten placings and $125,238. He finished third at each of his two starts in New Zealand before being purchased by Williams on behalf of 17 stable clients.
“He has been late maturing, and he will progress,” said Williams. “With his gate speed he will make his way to open class. He has certainly got the high speed you need against the better horses.”
Williams purchased Brickies Dream on the recommendation of his friend Chris Butt, who was a successful driver in WA a decade ago before returning to New Zealand.