Grand Dreamer has prevailed in last weekend’s Ballarat Cup, with the horse besting the favourite to come out on top of the 2200m race.
Substantial rainfall early in the morning saw the track at Dowling Forest downgraded to heavy by the time the Cup was to be run. This suited the wet-tracker, Grand Dreamer, just fine. Trainer, Robert Smerdon of Ballarat said the heavy rainfall was perfectly timed to give Grand Dreamer ($7.50) the advantage, especially over favourite Grey Lion ($3.60) who would finish in third.
The 153-year old race offers top quality prize money to the first-placed horse, and has been a popular way to end the spring racing carnival for many years now. Under the guidance of jockey Patrick Moloney, Grand Dreamer got off to a conservative start, seizing the final 100m to storm into first place, holding off the fast-finishing De Little Engine for the victory.
The horse is co-owned by local racing family, the Sheas, who are incredibly pleased with the result. Grand Dreamer caps off a successful year for the racing family, with another of their horses, Cantbuybetter, proving incredibly successful during 2017, particular at Doomben in May.
