Don't Stop Dreaming draws perfectly for Chariots Of Fire

By Adam Hamilton

Young Kiwi star Don’t Stop Dreaming is sure to start a hot Chariots Of Fire favourite after drawing ideally in gate two.

Mark and Nathan Purdon’s excitement machine has shown enough gate speed previously to say he can maximise the draw with only fellow Kiwi pacer Sooner The Bettor (one) drawn inside him.

The other star Kiwi in the $250,000 Group 1 feature is the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Its Merlin, who drew barrier seven.

The top Australian hope, Jason Grimson’s newbie Frankie Ferocious, fared quite well in gate four.

The other leading Aussie hope, star Bathurst pacer Better Be The Best, has gate speed and drew nicely in barrier three.

But Don’t Stop Dreaming’s second to Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup and two subsequent easy Menangle wins make him the horse to beat.

“That’s an excellent draw. I’m really happy,” Mark Purdon said. “He’s thriving on the racing (in Australia) and I’m glad he had that run the other night rather than go into a race as strong as this without racing for three weeks.”

Mark Purdon is chasing his third Chariots Of Fire, having gone back-to-back with Have Faith In Me in 2016 and Lazarus in 2017.

Have Faith In Me backed-up to win the Miracle Mile at his next run.

Barry Purdon has Its Merlin and Sooner The Bettor in his quest for a fifth Chariots win, but the last of them was back in 2015 with Our Sky Major.

Chariots Of Fire barrier draw : 1609m. Saturday night. Menangle.

1 – Sooner The Bettor – Gavin Fitzpatrick

2 – Dont Stop Dreaming – Mark Purdon

3 – Better Be The Best – Nathan Turnbull

4 – Frankie Ferocious – Cam Hart

5 – Captain Hammerhead – David Moran

6 – Sure Thing Captain – Adam Sanderson

7 – Its Merlin – Zachary Butcher

8 – Earl Of Pembroke (2nd emerg) – Jack Laugher

9 – Captain Knocks – Brad Hewitt

10 – Our Vinnie – Jack Trainor

11 – Dougs Platter (1st emerg) – Josh Gallagher

12 – Rocknroll Hammer – Luke McCarthy