10-time leading trainer Adam Durrant isn’t going to raise the bar too high for multiple blacktype winning filly Constant Dreaming, as she edges closer to the start of a new campaign.
Constant Dreaming won the Listed 1000 Guineas (1800m) and Natasha Stakes (2200m), before she finished third as a short-price favourite in the Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m).
The four-year-old had a 950m trial at Lark Hill late last month, before she comfortably won her second trial for the preparation stepping up to the 1450m yesterday.
Durrant also had fellow promising three-year-old’s Henchard and He’s A Lucky Lad trial yesterday, after both horses ran in feature races leading up to the WA Derby (2400m).
Durrant said he had higher hopes for Constant Dreaming than Henchard and He’s A Lucky Lad this campaign.
“I’m certainly confident they can be middle of the range stayer,” Durrant told TABradio.
“Maybe they’re Albany, Geraldton Cup type or even Pinjarra and Bunbury Cup types.
“Constant Dreaming might lift the bar being the Blackfriars.
“As she matures, she may come on.
“It’s not often you see too many Oaks winners go on with the job and we’re mindful of that.
“She seems to be the most likely to be the Stakes type horse.”
The trio were among 46 horses that trialled at Lark Hill for Durrant, who said he was starting to put together a team for the upcoming Kalgoorlie round and metropolitan features.
“Tri For Us trialled super, Constant Dreaming Off Wego and Come Right Back are all heading towards the Kalgoorlie round,” he said.
“Harmika wasn’t in the money, but she was probably one of my better triallers for the day.
“A horse called Hoba West, he’s well above average.”
Durrant will also saddle up Affluential in the TABtouch Better Your Bet Maiden (1700m) at Belmont tomorrow afternoon.
Affluential, a full brother to reigning Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant, is a $4.20 chance with TABtouch but is yet to gain a start in the race as the first emergency.
Durrant said Affluential would take plenty of benefit from his first campaign of racing.
“He’s a very immature horse and Bob and Sandra (Peters) have taken their time with him,” he said.
“They treat him, basically, like he’s a three-year-old not a four-year-old.
“He’s one of those horses you can see coming on in the next 12 months or so.
“Hopefully he comes back a nice stayer in the next 12 months once he develops.”
Tim Walker