Dreams of Eric to keep the Harness 5000 dream alive for Nate on Thursday night
By Barry Lichter • 29 October 2025
The bookies obviously didn’t miss the last-start effort of Dreams Of Eric, opening him a $3.50 favourite at Cambridge on Thursday night.
Though only seventh last week, the speedy little three-year-old never found any gaps in the run home, going to the line hard held by Harrison Orange.
In his first race after a six-week freshen-up, Orange drove the horse exactly to the instructions of Lincoln Farms co-trainer and part-owner Nathan Delany, who wanted him to go back from a wide draw and run on at the finish.
“Harry did exactly what I wanted - to keep him covered up and to hit the line well - and he was happy with the run.”
Dreams Of Eric led all the way from gate eight to beat Skys Legacy at Cambridge in August. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.Still last turning for home, Dreams Of Eric finished with a full head of steam, untested, five lengths behind winner Aquila.
“But this time I’ll tell him to cut loose and hopefully he’ll be in front.”
From gate five, that shouldn’t be too hard an assignment for Orange who led easily from gates four and eight in the horse’s two wins on the course in August.
“He’s training really well so is a definite each way chance and potential winner.”
Delany says Dreams Of Eric will have one or two more starts before heading south to Canterbury where he is still the second highest qualifier behind Berrettini for the $60,000 Harness 5000 for three-year-old colts and geldings at Ashburton on December 21.
More news in Harness
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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.”
