The classy Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained mare headed off A G’s White Socks and Captain Dolmio in a nail-biting finish to the $30,000 free-for-all (2600m) at Oamaru.
It signalled the 6yr-old was back to her best after a frustrating run of outs due to a lengthy battle with hoof problems.
Owner Mary Kenny, who races Dream About Me with husband Paul and father Charlie Roberts, revealed after the win that a spell in Southland over winter was an important factor in her mare returning to her best form.
"Mark sent her down to Dianne Cournane’s property [near Grove Bush] to spell and she had three months down there and her feet have never been better.
"Dianne looked after her very well. In fact she was very fat when she came back and she has taken a heck of a lot of work just to get the weight off her."
Kenny said she and her fellow owners had considered retiring Dream About Me before she came back into work for her 6yr-old season.
They sought advice from Purdon and he suggested the mare still had something to offer.
"When she had the problems with her feet we thought what more does she have to prove?"
They told Purdon if he thought she should be retired to let them know, "but he said ‘no, I want to have another go at the New Zealand Cup with her"’.
Dream About Me prevailed in a thrilling three-horse finish.
Driver Tim Williams urged the mare to the line and she scored by a head margin over A G’s White Socks, with Captain Dolmio a further head away in third.
Williams had an excellent day in the sulky, bagging two trotting wins alongside his group 3 victory with Dream About Me.
He drove the trotters Muscles Galore and She Aint No Angel to wins for trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds.
Muscles Galore burst along the passing lane to win race 9, the feature trot, beating a line-up of smart and more seasoned horses.
Once in to the clear from three back on the inner Muscles Galore dashed past Hey Yo to win.
She Aint No Angel was also impressive when she sprinted to a two and a-half length victory in race 5.
Williams worked her to the lead in the first lap of the race and the mare never gave her rivals a look in as she free-wheeled to an impressive win in her first start since February.
