HORSES don’t always go to the spelling paddock after they have won.
But that’s what premier Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup is looking to do with unbeaten filly Confess Our Dreams.
The three-year-old, owned in Melbourne by Akram Younan, made it two wins from as many starts – both at Newcastle over 900m – when she took the Class 1 Handicap.
A dominant early favorite, Confess Our Dreams eased from barely odds against to start at $3.50 as a result of solid support for runner-up Forms Of Fear (also $3.50) and $2.60 favorite Mr Trackside.
Jockey Jean Van Overmeire had Confess Our Dreams away smartly then sat outside the leader when Forms Of Fear went through on her inside after beginning awkwardly.
The Hawkesbury filly was clearly the strongest over the last 100m, forging clear to score comfortably.
Mr Trackside was held up for clear running from the 400m before getting into the clear near the 250m, but was unable to take ground off the winner.
Confess Our Dreams, a daughter of Shalaa, is the second last foal of the Choisir mare The Beautiful Wife, who died in May.
“She can’t do much more than she has done, but I’m inclined to stop with her now and give her a break,” Widdup said this evening.
“Confess Our Dreams is still learning, and you’d like to think there is further improvement in her when she returns.
“I don’t feel she will be strictly a 900m horse either.”
Confess Our Dreams had won a Newcastle Maiden on debut on September 30 and continued her trainer’s excellent run of late, being his 15th winner already in the first two and a half months of the 2023-24 racing year.
“I’m a little surprised we have done that well reasonably early in the season, as I’ve got a lot of young horses in work,” Widdup said.
“But I’m focusing more on metropolitan and provincial racing.”
Whilst understandably disappointed stablemate Ausbred Flirt was beaten in the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick last Saturday, he certainly wasn’t disappointed with her performance in finishing second to Renaissance Woman.
“She had to work early from a wide draw, and did a terrific job,” Widdup said. “She is going really well.
“We’ve got a few options with her. There are some nice races in Melbourne, and we’ve also got the Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on November 9.”
Newcastle trainers Paul Perry and Nathan Doyle also were winners at their home meeting today.
Perry scored with Bakerloo ($4.40) in the Provincial 3YO Maiden Handicap (1300m), and Doyle with Salisano ($4.20) in the Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m).
Salisano, like Confess Our Dreams, is a daughter of Shalaa, and is now unbeaten in two starts since joining Doyle’s team, having also been successful at the September 30 Newcastle meeting when a $51 bolter.
*Story John Curtis, October 17, 2023 - Pics Bradley Photos*
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