Vancouver Filly Looking to Get Back on G1 Track

Media Release - Thursday November 2

Trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams are hoping Illicit Dreams can get her Gr.1 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) preparation back on track at Ashburton on Sunday in the Juice Signs (1400m).

Illicit Dreams will contest the Juice Signs (1400m) at Ashburton on Sunday. Photo: Race Images South

The daughter of Vancouver was eased down in the concluding stages of the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), finishing last in the 10-horse field last start, with a post-race veterinary examination putting the performance down to dehydration.

“We got her bloods done and she was quite dehydrated that day,” Williams said.

“With all the severe winds that we had down here, we ended up with no power or water for three days, so we couldn’t bring them into the boxes.

“She didn’t drink as much from the trough, she is quite fussy. Hopefully she has come right and will improve on what we saw last time.”

Illicit Dreams has pulled through the run well and Williams has been pleased with her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment.

“She galloped well today (Thursday),” she said. “Jason Laking has been riding all of her gallops for me and he is happy with her. He knows her very well, he has been riding her right through.”

Illicit Dreams has drawn barrier 11 and Williams is hoping the wide gate will help jockey Tegan Newman find cover to help settle the three-year-old filly.

“She is just going too hard at the start and we would like to see her settle a bit more and show us we are heading in the right direction for the Guineas,” Williams said.

“This race will tell us whether she carries onto that.”

Advertisement

Williams will also line-up evergreen galloper The Buffer in the Agraforum Growing Innovation (1600m).

He has once again been lumbered with 62kg, but will get some weight relief courtesy of apprentice jockey Danika Wilson’s four-kilogram claim.

“Last start at Riccarton was a bit tougher for him,” Williams said of the gelding’s unplaced run in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m).

“It is a bit tricky now with the weight he carries and the fields he comes up against. This field is a bit weaker and hopefully the mile will be better for him.

“We would like to get him back to the country meetings. I am not sure whether he will start over 2000m for Cup Week yet. We will just play it by ear as he has had a lot of racing already.”

Williams’ team will be rounded out by Proisir filly Zlatna in the Gary McCormick Transport (1600m).

“She is a progressive type. She needs more ground and is still quite immature and green,” Williams said.

“Jasmine (Fawcett, jockey) seems to like her and thinks she has got ability. We are just trying to get a win with her and get her up over more ground.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
More Stakes Success for Vancouver Mare
Riccarton is a home away from home for speedy Ruakaka mare Illicit Dreams, who added a blistering front-running win in Saturday’s Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) to her proud record at the Christchurch track.
Tenth SW for Vancouver - Illicit Dreams wins Champagne Stakes
Speedy North Island visitor Illicit Dreams proved too fleet of foot for her two-year-old rivals when she took out the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
Quality Vancouver Filly Back in Form
After a mixed spring preparation, Illicit Dreams announced herself as a key figure in the upcoming southern Guineas series with a dominant Rating 75 victory at Omoto on Wednesday.
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Horse Trading Stock Issues to Avoid
One of the key areas in thoroughbred taxation is accounting for trading stock and ensuring the tax closing value is properly ascertained. You’d be quite surprised of the enormous difference to the tax position of any racing player where trading stock problems occur.
Invincible Filly Snares $100,000 Inglis Bonus
The least expensive filly by champion sire I Am Invincible sold at Inglis Easter in 2024, Wear the Crown always looked to have been well bought at $260,000 by Seib/Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds and she set about repaying her purchase price at Goulburn on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 25
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Goal for Vancouver Filly Illicit Dreams
Stakes winner Illicit Dreams will kick-off her preparation toward the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November when she heads to Riccarton on Saturday to contest the NZ Cup Meeting Tickets On Sale Now Three-Year-Old (1000m).