My angel is a centrefold
AN INVENTIVE incentive is being credited for consistent squaregaiter Abitofadreamer's success in a Trot Final Kilmore a couple of nights ago.
Completing only one visit to winners' circle this season, Abitofadreamer had notched eight placings from his 19 starts for the term.
In a bid to encourage Abitofadreamer to capture that elusive victory one of the Kim Procter-trained gelding's part-owners offered him a bonus.
That owner happens to be National Trotguide's very own Paul Courts.
"Paul's sense of humour is, shall we say, different," Procter said. "He likes to think he is funny.
"Before the heat he told Dreamer he could have a picture of Queen Elida if he won.
"Dreamer won that, so he got his photo and an offer of Queen Elida with no harness, or as Paul put it "with her gear off" if he won the Final, which he also did.
"Apparently those incentives are why Dreamer has won his last two starts!"
Driven to perfection by Brad Chisholm, Abitofadreamer was masterfully angled away from the inside of the second row to be in the one-one soon after the start.
With the favourite, Majestic Speed, sent forward three-wide during the middle stages, Chisholm left the running line ahead of the public elect to find the lead in what proved the winning move.
Proving too slick along the home straight, Abitofadreamer scored by three-and-a-half metres from Tetra, with Ima Ziabee a metre-and-a-half away third.
"I am just so thrilled to see him get consecutive wins," Procter said. "My goal for the year was for him to win two races, now he's won three which is amazing.
"He is such a great tryer which never really runs a bad race.
"Except for a couple of experimental standing starts which he didn't like, he's been so consistent.
"I've given him 19 mobile starts this season for three wins, eight placings and two fourths.
"And what a super drive from Brad. Not once has Brad put in a bad drive behind Dreamer and his drive in the Final was just faultless."
Along with Courts, Procter part-owns the son of Used To Me with her brother, Dave, sister-in-law Janelle Courts and close friends Nathan Barnes and Tamara Towers.
