Talented staying mare Dreams Come True (NZ) (Staphanos) made it back-to-back victories at Sandown when coming from last in a small field to claim the Tile Importer Handicap (2400m) on Wednesday.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained five-year-old was given a no-panic ride by Jamie Melham as she waited for the runs to come to stave off runner-up Jabbawockeez (NZ) (Redwood).
The daughter of Staphanos had to survive a protest to claim her fourth victory from ten starts.
“I thought it was a very good effort,” Kent Jnr said. “They were going trial speed down the back.
“I don’t think Sandown really suits her, going up inside runners. I can’t wait till she gets a setup where she can come down the outside.
“That’s a better pattern for her, but it was a very tough effort.
“She’s a beautiful, big, strong horse, it was her first go at 2400m and I think she’s very progressive.
“She’s a mare going places and she has got a great group of owners.
Winning rider Jamie Melham said the imposing mare had a deceptively good turn of foot.
“She’s quite deceiving out there because you drop your hands on her and she falls asleep. She’s a big, beautiful ride, and then the tempo quickens.
“I gave her a little squeeze and then all of a sudden I was up bums trying to find a run because for a staying mare, she was actually very sharp when you ask her and it was quite tight for a few strides.
“She gave me a feel like she had a lot left to give, and then when she hit the front, she just hovered a bit. I think she’s a good horse. You’ve just got ride her with cover and expose her late.
“She’ll definitely win better races.” Dreams Come True is by Novara Park stallion Staphanos out of the Shocking mare Avant (NZ). She was a private purchase after winning at her second start at Te Rapa for trainer Kelly Van Dyk.