Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Fifty years ago, trainer-reinsman Alex Treasure won the prestigious Golden Slipper with Captain Armbro, and at Gloucester Park on Friday night the 81-year-old Treasure celebrated the occasion of the 2024 Golden Slipper by winning the $21,000 Morning Show Pace with Starlight Dream.
Treasure bred and owns Starlight Dream, who is an exciting seven-year-old who emerged as a good prospect in the upcoming feature events for mares. Making her first appearance after a spell, Starlight Dream was a $15.30 chance from the outside barrier (No. 9) for trainer-reinsman Donald Harper, and she impressed when she charged home from last in the field of eleven at the 600m to burst to the front in the final 100m and win by a length from $19 chance Pocket the Change, with the $1.670 favourite Peaceful a close-up third.
Harper restrained Starlight Dream at the start, and he was happy to follow the three and four-wide burst by $21 chance Rebline in the final circuit.
Fleur Du Marquis, attempting to complete a winning hat-trick, was a $31 outsider who mustered abundant early speed to dash past the polemarker Soho Rhapsody ($4.80) and take the lead after 200m and then kept Peaceful in the breeze.
Peaceful got her head in front with 600m to travel, but she was unable to hold out the fast-finishing Starlight Dream and Pocket The Change, who had enjoyed an ideal trip three back on the pegs.
“From barrier nine I knew we were going to settle at the rear, and that a little bit of luck would go a long way,” said Harper. “Her work on the way back (in this campaign) has been better than last time, and I think she will make the grade and get a start in the feature events (the $100,000 Norms Daughter on November 8 and the $150,000 Mares Classic on November 22).”
Behavioural issues early in her career and a foot problem delayed Starlight Dream’s racing debut until she was four, and she now has had only 16 starts for nine wins, two placings and $61,108.
Starlight Dream is by former star pacer Alta Christiano and is the first foal out of Dreams Daughter, who was bred by Treasure and possessed a sizzling finishing burst which