Blacks A Fake winner Amazing Dream set to chase further riches in Australia

By Adam Hamilton

Amazing Dream’s stunning Queensland campaign is likely to see her stay in Australia longer and tackle harness racing’s biggest event, the Inter Dominion.

The former Kiwi mare, who completed the huge Rising Sun and Blacks A Fake double, is owned by an American syndicate, headed by Marc Hanover and Gordon Banks, and the plan is for her to finish her racing days in the USA.

“She’ll eventually go there to the USA, but for now she’ll head back to Victoria with me and then I’ll talk with Marc and Gordon to map out the plans,” trainer Nathan Purdon said.

“There are some nice mares’ races for her in Victoria, but also the NSW Inter Dominion later in the year.

"She’s such a tough mare, a series like that with four races in two weeks would really suit her.”

It would mean taking on the boys again, but that’s something Amazing Dream is unusually comfortable with.

Albion Park race caller Chris Barsby revealed her Blacks A Fake win made her the first mare to beat the boys in an Australian Grand Circuit race since Baby Bling in the 2013 Miracle Mile.

“She loves a dogfight. For some strange reason, she goes great against the boys, but drops back against the mares and gets beaten in some of the big ones," driver Blair Orange said.

Incredibly, The Blacks A Fake was the fourth time Amazing Dream has beaten the boys at Group 1 level.

The Northern Derby and Auckland Cup in New Zealand and The Rising Sun were the others.

Amazing Dream is just the horse Purdon, son of champion Kiwi horseman Mark Purdon, needed to put his name in lights after making the bold decision to leave NZ and set-up a stable just outside Geelong in Victoria.

“She’s a mighty mare. I’ve got Marc and Gordon to thank. They backed me as soon as I moved to Australia and then entrusted me with this mare,” Nathan Purdon said.

“I can’t believe how good Queensland has been to me.

"I didn’t think it would get any better than when I trained and drove Ohoka Punter to win the Blacks A Fake five years ago.

"Now here I am winning it again and The Rising Sun as well.”

In a further boost, Purdon is set to have impressive Queensland Derby winner American Dealer join his stable in a few months.

Like Amazing Dream, he’s owned by Hanover and Banks.

“He’s going to Kevin Pizzuto in Sydney next week and then the plan is for him to come down to me for the Victoria Derby in October,” Purdon said.

American Dealer capped a stellar Constellations Carnival for champion driver Anthony Butt.

Butt won three Group 1’s, was beaten a head in another, snared two Group 3 wins and also won the Redcliffe Derby on Krug.

“It’s been a fantastic few weeks up here,” Butt said.

“I’d won the Inter Dominion final at the old Gold Coast track on Mr Feelgood, but hadn’t won a Group 1 at Albion Park before this Carnival.

"It’s one I’ll remember for quite a while.”