Sport
19 February, 2025
Don't Stop Dreaming salutes
DON’T Stop Dreaming saluted ahead of a local contingent to earn victory in the 2025 Terang Co-Op Terang Pacing Cup last Friday.
The five-year-old raced home for its 16th career victory to topple local horses Keayang Tokyo in second and Jilliby Nitro in third for the $30,000 main event.
Terang Harness Racing Club president Chris O’Connor said the visting Don’t Stop Dreaming, who is in Australia for the Miracle Mile, simply proved too strong.
“Don’t Stop Dreaming is one of the top horses to come across from New Zealand,” he said.
“He performed strongly, a class horse.
“One of his adversaries, Catch A Wave, avoided the cup and ran in the sprints but equalled the track record.
“They’ll come head to head in Sydney but it’s good to have horses of their calibre coming to Terang to do what they do.”
The locals fared better in the evening’s other feature race, the $20,000 Matthews Petroleum Terang Trotters Cup, with the Jason Lee-driven Keayang Chucky saluting ahead of Glen Craven and Aldebaran Vera, with Plymouth Chubb rounding out the top three.
“Chucky is a star – he’s one of the three best trotters in Australia at the moment and still improving,” Mr O’Connor said.
“He was almost last coming in to the straight but was easily able to gain the lead.
“It was an extraordinary run, and Jason Lee ran a fabulous race not using the horse too much – he just let the horse do what it does, and timed his run beautifully.
“He’s been doing some fantastic driving, which was clear on the night.”
Mr O’Connor said the event was well attended, with the dining packages selling out all 180 spots and no shortage of people happily attending trackside.
“It was well supported,” he said.
“Terang is a great racing town to be able to have a successful Farmers Day Out event at Terang Racecourse and then back up in the evening putting on a large harness racing meeting.
“It’s a really good effort and the town needs to be congratulated for supporting both.
“It was an action-packed night with good quality horses, a few track records almost fell, and there was a strong crowd.
“We had a lot of young people in the crowd – which is always great to see when young families come out.”
In other results, She Will Wantano took first in the Mt Noorat Freighters Pace ahead of Shady Dancer and Tinsel Tiara.
The Glen Craven-driven Spirit of Pearl triumphed over Luva Scrap and Kwick Sand in the Neville and Patsy Clarke Memorial Pace.
Keayang Lavita gave Glen Craven his second win of the night in the Ridley Trot, with Mattyo and Beach Heaven rounding out the top three.
As previously mentioned, Catch A Wave tied the track record in the Morsbearnings Pace, earning victory over Rock N Roll Doo by more than nine lengths with Operative Line crossing third.
Keayang Taco made good on favourite odds in the Pat Bellman Memorial Pace, with a narrow victory over Ata Rangi and Hernie.
In the Terang Co-Op Rural Store Pace, Odin earned a tight win over Auckland Red and Keayang Blue Jeans.
