Dreams Of Eric is going too well for Proviseur, inner, and Barbarossa. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.
Dreams Of Eric passes Ashburton test with flying colours; he eats up being drilled
By Barry Lichter • 31 October 2025
Lincoln Farms’ co-trainer and part-owner Nathan Delany got what he needed to see from Dreams Of Eric at Cambridge on Thursday night.
In what proved to be a titanic battle, as Eric and driver Harrison Orange were taken on over the entire last lap, the little prize-fighter eventually saw off Barbarossa to win in a slick mile rate of 1:56.8.
“I told Harry to pull the plugs as soon as he left the gate,” Delany said.
“I really wanted to test him to see if he was good enough to go to Ashburton. I always thought he had a good ticker and last night he showed it.”
It was Dream’s Of Eric’s second-last start before trekking south for the Harness 5000 meeting on December 21 at Ashburton where he is the second highest qualifer for the three-year-old colts’ and geldings’ $60,000 race.
Fending off a challenge for the lead 1100 metres out, Dreams Of Eric continued to be eye-balled by Ben Butcher and Barbarossa, clocking a 29.5 quarter then 28.9 down the back.
But, whereas most horses would have dropped out after such a drilling, little Eric puffed himself up even more.
“He loves it when something keeps dishing it up. He doesn’t try if he doesn’t have another horse alongside him.
“Harry said he was jogging at the finish.”
At the line, Dreams Of Eric held a three-quarters of a length margin, with Barbarossa capitulating and it being left to Proviseur to stage a run up the markers.
The win proved a windfall for punters who took the early $3.50 fixed odds on the horse, his price caving in to $1.80 on tote close.
Delany said he’s hoping that with his great gate speed, Dreams Of Eric can lead at Ashburton but, if not, he wants something to put some tempo into the race.
“The faster the better to take the sting out of the others.”
Delany, who races Dreams Of Eric with a mate Cody Evans, will give him one more start, at Cambridge on November 20, before going south in early December.
More news in Harness
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Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
