BALLARAT trainer Mitch Freedman admits a second career win for Zorro's Dream at Bendigo on Wednesday was a long time coming.
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The now four-year-old gelding showed much more than a glimpse of potential in winning his maiden as a colt at Kyneton in late-2019 at his second race start.
But things have not exactly gone to plan since then.
Following a disappointing effort in the VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade (1400m) a few weeks later on Ballarat Cup day, Zorro's Dream was gelded.
He returned to the racetrack in August last year, but until Wednesday, had failed to add to his win tally.
A string of four seconds and two thirds from his past six starts pointed to horse with obvious ability, and much to Freedman';s delight, the son of Toronado was able to put it all together in downing a smart benchmark 70 field over 1100m.
"It's been a bit of a frustrating run - that's as good as I have seen him look there today since he was a colt," he said.
"He got gelded late when he let us down on Ballarat Cup day, he has taken a lot of time to look right in himself.
"He looks great now. I was a bit nervous when I saw the other thing coming down the outside, he's run a couple of placings, but he was able to kick strongly and get the job done.
"Hes got good ability, so hopefully that bit of confidence can help swing things around for him and he will be back in the winner's circle a few more times.
"He was working really well the last time around, but he just didn't look right in himself."
Second in the race was Teramia for Matt Laurie, while local hope It's Kind of Magic finished fifth for Sutton Grange trainer Brent Stanley after leading them into the straight.
The smart mare was returning from a 20-week spell and will no doubt be better for the run.
Zorro's Dream was nicely ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jye McNeil.
Arguably the most impressive winner on the program was the Team Hawkes filly More Secrets, who was able to jump from winning a maiden on debut at Pakenham last month, to a convincing victory at benchmark 64 level.
The three-year-old was midfield on straightening up, but unleashed a powerful finish to run down the Corstens-trained Estoril Park in the dying stages.
Her win gave Craig Williams the second leg of a double after he won earlier in the day aboard the Danny O'Brien-trained I Am In The Mood.
Trainer Wayne Hawkes could not have been more impressed with More Secrets, who is now headed for a spell, after advancing her record to a perfect two-from-two.
"She would have been a good thing beaten if she had of got beat, but you can now see her good turn of foot," he said.
"She has always showed it at home, but it's good for the owners to see what she can do.
"While we don't want to go to stud this early and while we want to leave her alone, she will come back next season and be bigger, better, stronger."
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