Big Dreamer
Trish Dunell
A return to winning form on her favourite track has Saturday's impressive Ruakaka winner Big Dreamer in line for a tilt at greater riches over the coming months.
The hardy five-year-old mare had hinted she was ready to step back into the winner's circle with two tidy efforts to commence her spring campaign. Trainer Paul Mirabelli was confident of a good showing and so it proved as his charge dominated a small but quality field of rating 75 gallopers to register her fourth career victory and her third on the Ruakaka surface.
"Her first run here was excellent and the last time she just got knocked out of contention," noted Mirabelli after the race.
"With Vinnie (Colgan) back on he rode her very confidently and I was pleased."
Mirabelli wasn't afraid to tackle stakes company with the mare in her last campaign and has similar plans in mind for this campaign.
"I definitely think she's a Group One horse," he said. "Her run in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder's Stakes was unfortunate last campaign as she got her back leg caught over the gate at the start.
"I'm sure she would have been competitive that day but anyhow we will kick on from today and look to see what's coming up for her."
Rider Vinnie Colgan, who was securing his second win on the day's programme after success aboard local runner Toorak Tower in the previous race, was suitably impressed with the effort.
"She has run nice races before and I think the two runs so far had her ready," he said.
"It was a good showing today and she won very well." – NZ Racing Desk
The hardy five-year-old mare had hinted she was ready to step back into the winner's circle with two tidy efforts to commence her spring campaign. Trainer Paul Mirabelli was confident of a good showing and so it proved as his charge dominated a small but quality field of rating 75 gallopers to register her fourth career victory and her third on the Ruakaka surface.
"Her first run here was excellent and the last time she just got knocked out of contention," noted Mirabelli after the race.
"With Vinnie (Colgan) back on he rode her very confidently and I was pleased."
Mirabelli wasn't afraid to tackle stakes company with the mare in her last campaign and has similar plans in mind for this campaign.
"I definitely think she's a Group One horse," he said. "Her run in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder's Stakes was unfortunate last campaign as she got her back leg caught over the gate at the start.
"I'm sure she would have been competitive that day but anyhow we will kick on from today and look to see what's coming up for her."
Rider Vinnie Colgan, who was securing his second win on the day's programme after success aboard local runner Toorak Tower in the previous race, was suitably impressed with the effort.
"She has run nice races before and I think the two runs so far had her ready," he said.
"It was a good showing today and she won very well." – NZ Racing Desk