Cup win for horse and driver special

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Both Nathan Williamson and Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) have had their own challenges in recent times so yesterday’s win by the pair in the $25,000 All Lay Carpet and Drapes Winton Cup was special.

“Winning any race is good but it’s extra special when it’s a Cup race and it’s a horse we think quite a bit of,” Williamson said.

In yesterday’s Cup Macandrew Aviator took up the running early with Dreams Are Free settling fourth.

With just over a lap to run Williamson peeled out and took Dreams Are Free to the top.

“They just backed up the speed and I thought Hayden (Hayden Douglas driving Macandrew Aviator) might be looking for a bit of a cover. Once my one got to the lead he was travelling comfortably and I thought it would take a nice one to run him down because we were always going to hike along over the last 800.”

At the line Dreams Are Free was two and three quarter lengths in front of Ohoka Connor with a neck back to Bettor Way.

Dreams Are Free winning the Winton Cup (Monica Toretto Photo)

The win was the five year old entire’s seventh in just twenty five starts.

“He’s a super talented horse but he’s had his share of problems on the way. By digging deep we’ve found what his problems are and now we can do our best to manage them. He’s a horse that likes to race fresh. He’s not your typical standardbred. He thrives when you don’t do a lot with him. That keeps his health pretty good as well. I think he’s getting back to somewhere near his best.”

Williamson says Dreams Are Free has also had a reset with his footwear.

“He used to crossfire quite bad. Franksie (farrier Brendon Franks) has done a great job.”

Dreams Are Free is owned by Brendan Fahy and the Dreams Are Free Syndicate which is managed by his son-in-law Jimmy Sinclair.

The Dreams Are Free crew (Monica Toretto Photo)

“It’s been great to nurture him back, the owners have been very patient and that really helps.”

Dreams Are Free will now target the Regent Car Court Southern Country Cup Final at Ascot Park in two weeks before heading to Addington for the $100,000 Hydroflow New Zealand Country Cups Championship in May.

The win was Williamson’s fourth as a driver in the Winton Cup. He won last year’s edition driving Betterthancash, the 2016 feature with Democrat Party and with Costa Del Magnifico in 2015.