Dreams Are Free does it again in Winton Cup

By Jonny Turner

Dreams Are Free made another memory at Central Southland Raceway when running to an easy victory in yesterday's All Lay Carpets & Drapes Winton Cup.

In 2023, the five-year-old produced one of the most incredible performances seen at Winton in recent years when winning after being detached from the field until the 500m.

Dreams Are Free’s excellent Winton Cup beginning meant there was no need for such a spectacular performance on Sunday.

But as he pulled away from the field and eased up at the line, the pacer delivered a different kind of thrill as he scored in just his fifth start since most recent victory in October of last year.

"He has been a super talented horse in his earlier days, but through one thing or another things haven’t gone 100% to plan,” trainer-driver Nathan Williamson said.

“He’s had his issues, but we seem to have figured out what they are and we are on the right path.”

“He is in a really good space at the moment, he is really healthy and hopefully this is the start of better things to come.”

Dreams Are Free is the first horse Williamson has driven to win in his own colours following his recent return to driving after recovering from his nasty spill at Alexandra Park late last year.

Though he had horses racing from his stable while he was sidelined, he’s significantly upped his numbers recently and his team is building form ahead of Diamonds Day at Ascot Park in a fortnight.

“They’ve had the race runs that they have needed now and hopefully this is the start of good things to come over the next month.”

Williamson’s brother Matthew produced a brilliant drive to win the Vetsouth Equine SSBA Southern Belle Speed Series Final with Haley Jaccka.

The Brett Gray trained mare had to overcome drawing the outside of the gate in the mares sprint which she did courtesy of a masterful Williamson drive.

The reinsman made a crucial decision to cut back to the inner around the 1000m.

“The horse she was following was struggling, so I either had to go around it or go up the inside.”

“Another horse came off the inside and then it was just a matter of following the horse that was going the best.”

“We got onto the back of Chicago Sky and it worked out great from there.”

“She is a lovely mare and the harder they go the better, and they really burnt early.”

Gray was thrilled to deliver a feature race win for Haley Jaccka’s breeder-owners Charlie and Ailsa Smaill.

“Charlie and Ailsa have been huge supporters of mine and put so much into the industry.”

“To win a nice race like that for them is pretty special.”

Sunday’s Group 3 Two-Year-Old Fillies Classic was won by the Ken Barron trained Gottagoodfeeling.

The filly was one of three winners for driver Carter Dalgety.