The harness racing rivalry that could headline coming seasons resumes at Addington tomorrow with stable confidence for one of the protagonists reaching a new level.
While the Self Assured-Copy That battle dominates the current open-class landscape and trotting fans hope Bolt For Brilliance returns from injury later this year to resume his rivalry with Muscle Mountain, the future may belong to Don’t Stop Dreaming versus Merlin.
The three-year-olds have only met twice, with one win apiece, and have divided every major race they have contested between them.
Merlin looks the faster of the pair but Don’t Stop Dreaming may be the better stayer. However, while the latter has only raced once this year after a December setback, Merlin has been on a winning rampage that included the Harness Million and Northern Derby.
Their rivalry has the classic storylines, co-trained by legendary brothers Barry Purdon (Merlin) and Mark (Don’t Stop Dreaming) and they are by two of the modern-day greats but very different stallions in Art Major and Bettors Delight.