Chase A Dream scratched from Aussie trip

By Michael Guerin

Chase A Dream’s Queensland campaign and any hope of a stud career are both over before they began.

The exceptional but erratic four-year-old was pulled out of the Rising Sun at Albion Park in July 5 on Wednesday morning by co-owner and trainer Mark Purdon following a so-so second to stablemate Rubira at the Pukekohe trials on Tuesday.

That means he won’t board a plane to Sydney on Sunday with Rubira and Oscar Bonavena, instead staying home and heading to the spelling paddock.

But before then he will be gelded as Purdon seeks more consistency from the Group 1 winner in the second half of the season.

“We think that is the best thing for him,” says Purdon.

“He will be gelded, have a break and hopefully come back better and more consistent in the second half of the season.

“We are disappointed to not be going and really appreciated the invite to the Rising Sun but it just hasn’t worked out for him.”

Purdon confirms both Rubira (Derbys) and Oscar Bonavena (Inter Dominion Trotting Champs) will still make the trip.

With Chase A Dream out of the series and Republican Party almost certain to follow there will be few, if any, realistic New Zealand chances of making the pacing final on July 19 but Oscar Bonavena and Bet N Win give New Zealand two top chances in the Trotting series.