First metropolitan win for Red Dream

Durable Kembla Grange stayer Red Dream has wound up his latest preparation in style with his first metropolitan win at Canterbury.

The Kerry Parker-trained six-year-old improved on a last-start second at Newcastle to win the Benchmark 75 (2700m) on Wednesday.

Red Dream, racing in Sydney for just the second time in his 29-race career after a start at Randwick in July 2015, skipped clear of Serious Hoffa ($5.50) to win by 1-1/2 lengths.

The $3.30 favourite Four Carat was 2-3/4 lengths further back in third.

“I was a little concerned at the top of the straight but Jeff (Penza) found his way out,” Parker said.

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“This was always a nice target for him. He’s been racing really well, probably without a little bit of luck.

“He’s been held up a couple of times but he got the gap when he needed it and he accelerated through nicely.”

Parker said Red Dream ($9.50) would now head to the paddock for an extended spell before returning to action in the off-season.

‘He’s had a long prep,” he said. “That was always his target, that Newcastle race (over 2900m on August 12) and here.

“They were two options where you thought ‘Well you’re not going to get much better pickings than this in town’.”