Michael Guerin: Don't Stop Dreaming changes stables
Michael Guerin • March 18th, 2025 10:28 AM • 2 min read
Star pacer Don’t Stop Dreaming has changed stables just two weeks out from the $1million Race by Betcha.
The last-start Menangle winner has left trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon and joined Hayden and Amanda Cullen and will race for them in Friday’s $60,000 Auckland Co-Op Taxis City of Auckland Free-For-All at Alexandra Park.
The ownership of half of Don’t Stop Dreaming had been at the centre of a legal dispute since the passing of former owner Ian Dobson in 2023.
It is listed as Dobson’s estate as well as Dennis and Mark Dunford as of Monday night.
Don’t Stop Dreaming faces a second line draw for the Cullens starting alongside stablemate We Walk By Faith in the 2200m mobile which is stacked with the majority of New Zealand’s best pacers.
Sooner The Bettor returns from a luckless Miracle Mile sixth and also starts alongside Mo’unga on the second line while Republican Party again faces the outside of the front line draw.
While not being drawn on the change of ownership for Don’t Stop Dreaming co-trainer Nathan Purdon says he is looking forward to the Free-For-All with Chase A Dream, who gets barrier 1 this Friday.
“He really needed last week’s run and while he will be better for this week too we think he can go close,” says Purdon.
The night’s two other main features are the Harness Millions for the three-year-old pacers and Marketplace will start red hot after drawing inside Rubira in the $200,000 final for the boys.
“We all know how good Marketplace is but Rubira beat him by going forward last week and I see no reason for us not to do that again,” says Purdon.
The $150,000 fillies pace is shorn of last Friday’s stunning winner Beside Me as she is ineligible but includes the other impressive filly from last Friday in Stella Rouge, who will start favourite from barrier 5.
The Cullens have a strong hand in that Listed race too with Winelight (1) and Arafura (2) over the 2200m mobile.
The meeting also hosts two $35,000 Metro Finals while Race 4 sees the return of last season’s northern juvenile star Captain Sampson after two recent workouts.
Picture at the Top of the Page: Don't Stop Dreaming wins at Alexandra Park. Photo; Race Images NZ
