Dreams Of Eric sold but Harness 5000 tilt at Ashburton still on for Nate and Cody

Little prizefighter Dreams Of Eric will have new owners shouting for him when he lines up at Cambridge on Thursday night.

And, on the strength of his recent efforts, and with only four rivals, the Vincent colt looks a great chance to score his fifth win.

Trainer Nathan Delany and his partner in the horse Cody Evans have enjoyed a great run in the eight months since Dreams Of Eric started racing, his 14 starts resulting in four wins and five placings.

When the Chinese offer came in, however, it was a no-brainer that the two mates should accept it.

“But he’s on a 50-50 deal until after Ashburton,” said Delany, keen to retain a share in the horse for his Harness 5000 target on December 21.

Dreams Of Eric retains his second ranking behind Berrettini, for the three-year-old colts and geldings event, that is until Greased Lightnin competes in the NZ Derby at Addington on Friday night and qualifies with his fifth start.

And Delany is set on tilting at the Listed $60,000 race.

“This will be his last start before he goes south,” Delany said. “And I think he’ll be a good chance because he continues to train very well.”

Dreams Of Eric scored his most impressive win yet, at Cambridge last start, after being drilled continuously in the lead. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.Dreams Of Eric looks set to start a short-priced favourite after his last-start demolition at Cambridge when Delany instructed driver Harrison Orange to blast the gate and lead.

That he did, but even more impressive was the way he shrugged off a persistent challenge from Barbarossa on his outer, running away to score by three-quarters of a length.

“I’ll leave it up to Harry how he drives him this week,” said Delany, but with only two slower gate horses inside him, Barbarossa included, it looks a given that he will again assume control.

Then it will be up to Orange to rate the horse correctly and, hopefully, have enough in reserve to stave off late-closer Rough And Ready, who is ideally suited to the small field.

Delany and his training partner Ray Green are expecting another good run from Jessie Lincoln, who is better drawn than her stablemate Lincoln Downs, in the third race.

Jessie Lincoln closed fast for third on debut last week, albeit a bit loose in her gait when challenging up the straight.

“She’s still a bit weak and will have only one or two more starts, for experience, before going out, but she’s been quite a nice horse right from the start.

“Unfortunately her race at Auckland on Friday didn’t go ahead as I think she would have been a chance and I’m sure she’ll go pretty well.

“Harry said she was still coming at the line last time and, the way she trains over 2400 metres, you’d think the extra 500 metres will help.”

Lincoln Downs might have run only seventh behind Jessie Lincoln last start but Delany was quite happy with the performance.

“She didn’t go so well at Auckland before that but has improved a lot since.”

Last, and widest, turning in, Lincoln Downs made up plenty of ground in the stretch for driver Monika Ranger to be only 3.9 lengths behind winner Booty Shaker.

“It was a good drive by Moni. It’s a shame she’s got a bad draw this week but if she can hit the line well again, I’ll be happy.”