DREAM PEDLAR took over the mantle of Tasmania’s best galloper with a resounding victory in the weight-for-age Kevin Sharkie Stakes over 1600 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart.
The Troy Blacker-trained gelding dethroned Tasmania’s war horse Conquering who was gallant in defeat.
It was Dream Pedlar’s first win back in Tasmania after a successful interstate campaign.
The victory gave the gelding back-to-back wins in the prestigious WFA event and he now heads towards the major cups and trainer Troy Blacker said the AAMI Hobart Cup is the six-year-old’s main mission.
“I would really love to win the Hobart Cup just to prove a point and I reckon I’ve got the horse to do it this season,” Blacker said.
“He was placed in the past two Hobart Cups and he was placed in the Tasmanian Derby at three but he is a many lengths better horse this time around.”
“I’ll nominate him for the Devonport Cup (on January 5 over 1800m) and see what weight he gets but whatever happens there he’ll also run in the weight-for-age Jockey Club Cup (Feb 5) and then go to the Hobart Cup,” he said.
Dream Pedlar enjoyed a great run in the race courtesy of a cool and brilliant ride from talented heavyweight jockey Michael Guthrie who had him settled midfield and poised to pounce 500 metres out.
Conquering led the star-studded field and looked to be travelling well within himself nearing the home turn and he kicked on the turn to set up a three-length lead.
Talented three-year-old Socks moved up to challenge on the home turn and with his light weight of 53kg he loomed as a likely contender but he was unable to handle the intense pressure that exists at weight-for-age level and faded to finish sixth.
When Guthrie called on Dream Pedlar for the supreme effort 200 metres out he dug deep and stormed home to win by over a length.
Surprisingly it was only Dream Pedlar’s seventh career win from 36 starts but his stake earnings is closing in on $500,000.