Racing
Hawkesbury News: 31st March, 2026
Jack Pilkington wasn’t going to miss out on having his first Group 1 runner at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Though acceptances for the $1m Sires (1400m) were not due until this morning, the Hawkesbury trainer didn't take any chances.
"I paid up for Am I Dreaming last Sunday," Pilkington said today.
Am I Dreaming made a winning debut at his home track last Thursday, beating older horses in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m).
The two-year-old finished strongly to defeat four-year-old Demmo Dermy and five-year-old Classic Two.
"Am I Dreaming has eaten up and done well since the race," Pilkington said.
"The Sires or the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in another fortnight from Saturday has always been our aim.
"Am I Dreaming is in great order, and we're going to the Sires for all the right reasons."
Pilkington had hoped Jason Collett, who rode the colt at Hawkesbury, would stay on for the Sires, but he had a prior commitment for Paradoxium, on whom he won the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 7 before finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight later.
He now is searching for a new rider for the Trapeze Artist colt.
Am I Dream drew barrier seven in the Sires in a field of 14.
Pilkington was adamant he had secured a bargain when he bought Am I Dreaming for $35,000 at the Magic Millions yearling sale Book 2 at the Gold Coast last year.
"I was prepared to pay more than that," Pilkington said.
"He is a proper horse."
Pilkington is the sole provincial trainer with a representative in the four Group 1s on Saturday on Day 1 of The Championships.
Am I Dreaming is listed as a $51 chance for the Sires with TAB.com.au as Pilkington not only seeks a memorable triumph with his maiden Group 1 representative, but also become the first provincial trainer to land the Group 1 feature in eight years.
The late Ben Smith was training at Newcastle when his filly El Dorado Dreaming, with Melbourne's Damian Lane aboard, stormed home to take the 2018 Sires at $81.
Not unlike Pilkington's colt, El Dorado Dreaming was backing up only a week after being narrowly beaten in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1200m) at her home track.
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