Amazing Dream making big move to North America

by Adam Hamilton

Amazing Dream has run her last race Down Under.

The champion Kiwi-bred mare is booked on a flight to the US on Wednesday to join Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano to continue her racing career.

Her US-based connections have been weighing-up the move for a number of months, but decided the time was right after her third in last night’s Hunter Cup.

She leaves a 10-time Group 1 winner and the second-richest stake-earning mare in Australasian history with $1,464,760.

Driver Anthony Butt insists she ranks up with the greatest mares Australasian has seen.

“Her record says that. It’s not just the 10 Group 1 wins, it’s what the wins have been,” he said. “Obviously Blossom Lady was special to me, but you’d have to say Amazing Dream is right up with her.

“To beat the boys in four really big races, twice in NZ and twice in Australia, that’s pretty special.”

Managing owner Gordon Banks said he was hopeful Amazing Dream would add to her greatness in North America.

“We have high hopes for her over here and she will be staked for all the major North American open mare stakes,” he said.

“We believe she deserves to leave Down Under at her peak and with the recognition she deserves as the second highest money earning mare in Down Under history (excluding Shartin whose earnings were primarily in North America.

“We also felt she deserves the chance to come here and be given until our stake season begins in late May to acclimate to her new home.

“Hopefully she will show harness fans here the greatness and heart of a champion that she has so spectacularly demonstrated Down Under.”

Trainer Nathan Purdon, who has looked after the mare since the middle of last year, knew the day was coming.

“It’s going to be a sad day to see her go, but we are so grateful for everything she has done for us and we will be forever grateful to have been given the opportunity to train her,” he said.

Amazing Dream hasn’t been overly raced, leaving our shores with 48 starts for 24 wins, 10 seconds and eight thirds.