Proven black-type performer Illicit Dreams has bounced back from a failed Group One mission over 1600m and brings last-start winning form into Saturday’s Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m).
Illicit Dreams won the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old last May, then kicked off her three-year-old spring with two second placings including in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). But the step up to a mile in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas proved to be a bridge too far, beating just one runner home and finishing almost 16 lengths behind the winner Molly Bloom.
Father-daughter training duo Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams freshened the Vancouver filly after that Riccarton classic, then kicked her off again in a Rating 75 over 1100m at Greymouth on January 3. Illicit Dreams was sent out as a $2.80 favourite and raced right up to expectations, winning impressively by more than a length.
“It might not have been the strongest field that she beat, but it was pretty pleasing to see her get back on track,” Rae said. “I’m back up in Ruakaka now, so I’m getting everything second-hand, but all the reports on Illicit Dreams have been really good. Dani (Danika Wilson, apprentice jockey) said her gallop this week was outstanding.
“I think her best distance at the moment is probably somewhere between 1200m and 1400m, so the 1335m of the Guineas at Gore this weekend should be ideal. She won over 1300m at Ruakaka last season, and she also placed against older horses in a Rating 75 over 1400m at Ashburton in the spring.
“This looks like a really nice race for her on Saturday, as long as the weather doesn’t get too bad.”
Gore’s track was rated a Good4 on Friday morning, with occasional rain in the forecast. The TAB rates Illicit Dreams a $4.20 equal favourite alongside Hakadecree.
Rae and Williams will also saddle The Buffer in the MLT Gore Cup (2000m) and Follow Your Dreams in the AON Insurance Brokers (1200m). They are both coming out of the Reefton Cup (1400m) on January 9, where Follow Your Dreams won and The Buffer finished third.
“I’m a bit surprised that The Buffer is favourite for the Gore Cup,” Rae said. “I’m not sure he’s a genuine 2000m horse. He won the Cromwell Cup (2030m) last season, but Michael McNab rode him that day and told us that he didn’t think he was a real stayer.
“He was disappointing in the Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m), but bounced back well in the Reefton Cup. He was super fit when he won the Nuggets last year, but he might have been a bit short on fitness this time around and just needed one more run. He was very good at Reefton.
“Follow Your Dreams won well last start and is dropping back to 1200m here. He and The Buffer are both the type of horse that if you place them in the right races, you’re going to pick up prize-money. The only other option for them was the Timaru Stakes (Listed, 1400m) next week, which is a black-type race with no apprentice allowances, so I thought we’d be better off here.
“The other horse we’ve got down there is Patsys Lass for Eamonn Green. She’s flying since she got down there. I wouldn’t be surprised if she won again on Saturday.”
Last-start winner Patsys Lass will line up in the Rex Cochrane Memorial (1800m). She will be ridden by Danika Wilson, who will also be aboard Illicit Dreams and The Buffer.