Yes Dream on target for Country Stampede

By Glenn Davis

Veteran Tolga trainer Ricky Ludwig is confident Yes Dream can book a place in the Country Stampede Final at Doomben in November when the five-year-old heads to Ewan on Friday.

Yes Dream – a Frank Edwards mount – makes the near five hour trip to Ewan for the Country Stampede qualifier over 1000 metres.

Ludwig has never had a runner in the Country Stampede Final.

He was denied a chance to run in the $105,000 feature when his former star sprinter Tycoon Thunder was injured in the week leading up to the 2021 edition.

“I thought Tycoon Thunder was a great chance in the Final that year, but he hurt his leg when he scrapped it on a fence a week before the race,” Ludwig said.

Yes Dream is backing up at Ewan, a week after a dominant win over 950 metres at Cairns last Friday.

“I don’t think they’ll beat him as he’s got the same weight as when he won last time under the quality conditions,” Ludwig said.

“It was a big win last week as he was three and four deep the whole way.

“It was also a big run in the Lightning Handicap three weeks earlier when he ran third.

“He hit a wet patch and floundered a bit and would have won the Lightning in another 20 metres.”

Ludwig has a small team of three horses in work after coming out of retirement to help close friend Michael Lee who previously trained Yes Dream.

“Michael suffered a stroke and asked me to take over training Yes Dream and Ruby July, who I subsequently sold,” Ludwig said.

“Unfortunately, Michael had another stroke since, but he backed Yes Dream last week and it made him feel a lot better.

“I’ve only got Yes Dream and Irresistible Force in work, but I’ve just bought another horse from Melbourne, who is on his way up here now.”

Ludwig, who turns 71 in October, had been retired from training for a few months before he received the call from Lee.

“I gave training away and retired,” Ludwig said.

“But, I’ve got a really good work rider now and I’m enjoying training again.”

Ludwig has named the John Manzelmann-trained Cochrane as the main threat to Yes Dream claiming his 14th win in 31 starts.

Cochrane won twice at Mackay recently but was no match when fourth to Yes Dream when the pair met at Cairns last week.