KEY POINTS:
The bad news for One Dream fans is that the tears were flowing out Pukekohe way again this week.
The good news is that they stopped yesterday.
The tears came from co-trainer Dave McGowan, harness racing's sensitive new age guy to whom One Dream is not a horse but a love affair.
McGowan had actually been pretty good this campaign, remarkable considering One Dream has been battling a leg injury and hasn't raced since January.
But the waterworks started again when One Dream, now sound in her legs, developed a foot problem on Sunday.
"I couldn't believe it, I was gutted and had a little cry out of frustration," admits McGowan.
But that was replaced by a smile yesterday after some astute farrier work helped One Dream work soundly and confirm her spot in the $200,000 4-year-old mares' pace on Saturday.
With her latest battle won, One Dream now faces another, having to give southern standout Nearea Franco a start from the second line on Saturday.
But not only does McGowan think she can do that, he says he now doesn't care if she can't.
"After the last few months I will just be happy to have her there because it has been such a big job to get her ready and I am so proud of everyone involved."
Pride is nice but it doesn't pay on the tote, so punters are looking for a little bit more than that, Dave.
Which is where the really good news comes in.
McGowan says One Dream is working and trialling as well now as she was before she beat the best mares in the country in the $100,000 Queen of Hearts at Alexandra Park in December.
"She is ready to win, don't worry about that," says McGowan.
"She is working huge and the small problem with the hoof hasn't affected her work because she spends much of her time swimming anyway.
"She paced her last 800m in 55.4 seconds behind Gotta Go Cullen and Changeover last Saturday and she won't need to go much quicker than that."
News of One Dream's improvement obviously got out, with the TAB taking a $500 bet on her last night at $4.50, although she is likely to beat those odds on the day.
That still leaves Nearea Franco as the worst result in the opening race for the bookies, who opened her at $13.
"There was money for her straight away at that price and even today we took $2000 more on her at $1.70," said TAB bookmaker Steve Richardson.
"So you could say she isn't a good result."
But the worst result of the day is four-year-old trotter King Charlie, who starts from one on the second line in his final.
"We have a few multi-bets ending on him for close to $100,000 in total so at the moment he is the worst result of the day."
JEWELS THREAT
* One Dream suffered another setback this week.
* But the glamour mare has recovered to take her place in her $200,000 divisional final.
* One Dream looks the biggest threat to the heavily backed Nearea Franco.
* King Charlie is the worst result of the day for TAB bookmakers.
