Racing: A Chance To Dream awakes as Oaks hope

To say A Chance To Dream successfully jumped up a grade is like saying the weather has been reasonable.

The John Sargent-trained filly found six lengths when she jumped to a listed stakes win in yesterday's Mercedes-Benz Sunline Vase at Ellerslie.

It was no mystery to Sargent.

"The jump up in distance has been the key to her."

The first time that happened was the start before yesterday's when A Chance To Dream left maiden class by six lengths.

Jumping to yesterday's stakes level was probably more than six lengths as an index, but she made a joke of that by winning by four lengths.

There is another big jump to the Oaks at Trentham, but no one who saw yesterday's win would be betting against it.

Mark Du Plessis had A Chance To Dream buried back on the rails along the back straight, but when he produced her wide in the final 400m, she burst clear to make the rest look ordinary. Except they weren't.

"The firm track is one of the keys to her form," said Sargent.

Second-placed November Rain had a beautiful trip behind the pace and even if she became jammed up behind the leaders when the field packed up approaching the home turn, she got out in time and clearly had her chance.

November Rain at her previous start failed by only a metre to rein in Katie Lee in the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa.