Jay's “Dream” Chief Havoc Result

JAY Opetaia had to watch virtually from the sidelines as his smart galloper Street Of Dreams raced to victory in the Group 3 Chief Havoc Cup (527m) at Gunnedah on Sunday night. 

Jay's uncle Scott Board asked him to take his Cup finalist Spring Patriot to Gunnedah.

“Scott is in Newcastle watching his daughter play netball,” said Jay. “My cousin Josh (Scott's son) had to stay home in Orange to look after the dogs.

“We share the kennel block at Scott's, all three of our racing team being there. And we share the training duties.

“I felt obliged to handle my uncle's dog, Spring Patriot, in the final, so I had to take my mate Mark Wicks with me for the five-hour drive but also to handle Street Of Dreams.”

Jay says he has booked Mark as handler for whenever Street Of Streams races again.

Street Of Dreams has powered over of the top of Red Hot Frankie to claim the @ladbrokescomau Chief Havoc Cup at Gunnedah.

Young gun Jay Opetaia will take home the $40,000 winners cheque for connections & confirms his status as one of the emerging stars of our game.#thedogs pic.twitter.com/Etrwv8BCjk

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) June 11, 2023

The son of Aston Dee Bee and Holly Wade wore down $1.80 favourite Red Hot Frankie to win by a length as an $8.50 chance with Embrace in third.

“My biggest win to date and a huge thrill,” said Jay who prepared kennelmate Agland Luai to finish fourth behind McInerney in the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park late last year.

And that setting is how Jay got to train Street Of Dreams for the On The Bunny and Carlos Syndicate.

“I got to know Brendan Pursell during the Million Dollar Chase carnival in September last year and then we caught up again when I took Agland Luai down to Melbourne back in November,” said Jay.

“Out of the blue he texted me to see if I wanted Street Of Dreams to train.

“It is a massive thrill to win the Chief Havoc Cup and on par with Agland Luai getting into the final of the Million Dollar Chase.

“The owners are mostly in Sydney and it is a bit of a drive to get to Gunnedah for them but they are over the moon .”

Jay admits Street of Dreams has “a lot of ability” but says that comes with poor racing habits.

“He drops out early and relies a lot on luck in his races,” he said.

“But he got that at Gunnedah.”

Street Of Dreams will head back to Wentworth Park on Saturday night and Jay is under no illusions.

“Free for all racing on a Saturday night is tough, but I will just keep putting him around and wait until another feature race like this comes along,” he said.

“I'm still buzzing.

“It is the biggest win for the owners as well as me.”