HARVEY “DREAMING” OF A GROUP 3 TRIUMPH

DREAMS are free!

Wyong trainer Shaun Harvey will have his first stakes runner in tomorrow’s $300,000 Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford.

Harvey’s mare Invasive Dreams is the $81 outsider with TAB.com.au for the provincial feature, but it isn’t an afterthought that he is taking on the more fancied mares.

He took over her current preparation a few months ago, and has given her six starts.

“I took her to Gosford for a Benchmark 64 Handicap over the Belle of the Turf 1600m early last month to see if she could handle the track,” he explained this morning.

“She ran fourth, beaten less than a half-length, and was a bit unlucky.

“It was a good test, and I was happy with her performance.

“Invasive Dreams is very tough and hasn’t been far away in several runs this campaign in town.

“Being a Group 3 race for fillies and mares, she deserves a crack at it, so why not have a go?”

Invasive Dreams’ Gosford run came after she made the pace in a stronger contest and held on well when fifth to Fortune in the Filante Handicap (1600m), run under Quality conditions at Royal Randwick on October 25.

Talented Wyong apprentice Anna Roper rides Invasive Dreams, and has been closely associated with the mare’s lead-up gallops.

“Anna is a terrific rider, and helps me out with trackwork whenever she can,” Harvey said.

“Invasive Dreams can be a fiery b….., and Anna has been riding her work for the last week and a half.”

Harvey currently has five horses in work, and won his first race with Buckin’ Rippa at Walcha in February last year.

His latest winner was Don’t Tell Jack at Bowraville on November 22.

Roper is making every post a winner with 35 victories so far in the first five months of the season, following 77 and 74 in the previous two seasons.

She has had only two Group 3 rides, and also is seeking a stakes breakthrough to add to her current career tally of 243.

Invasive Dreams is one of four provincial mares chasing Group 3 glory in the Belle of the Turf.; the other three all being recent winners.

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees and Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup both opted to bypass Randwick engagements today with last start metropolitan winners Kind Words ($8) and Hyperbolic ($4.40 second favorite) respectively.

Tom Sherry rides Kind Words, and Tyler Schiller has the mount on Hyperbolic, who has won her last two starts in town.

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan also decided to have a “throw at the stumps” with first-up home track winner Heaven Bound (Jay Ford), a $34 chance.

Gosford trainer Adam Duggan has the sole provincial representative in the $200,000 Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m).

Lightly-raced Pierata filly Brown Sugar ($23) in unbeaten from two starts in weaker grade; at Kembla Grange on November 15 and Taree on December 1.

Ash Morgan ride her at Taree, and sticks with her in the field of eight.

. The rail is in the TRUE position for the seven-race program, which begins at 1.30pm. Course manager Steve Scollard at 6.50am today (Saturday) posted a “Good 4” rating.

Story John Curtis, December 27, 2025