Dream Pedlar set a weight carrying record to win the Devonport Cup (1800m) on Wednesday.  The West Quest gelding lumped 61kg to a half-length victory in the $100,000 event.

Dream Pedlar (6g West Quest – Unamah by Top Avenger) equalled the record of 1949 Devonport Cup winner Barnwell but he actually carried another kilo more with the modern-day allowance for the jockey’s vest.

Heavyweight jockey Michael Guthrie settled Dream Pedlar fifth on the fence from an outside alley.  He eased the favourite off the fence and then ranged up to front-runner Borugino (Perugino) at the furlong before drawing clear.  Fierezza (Blevic) was a long head away third.

Longford trainer Troy Blacker declared Dream Pedlar the best horse he has ever prepared.  “His biggest assets are his maturity and strength,” Blacker said.  “And you only have to look at his past half-dozen runs to see he is every bit the racehorse thesedays.”

Dream Pedlar returned home last month to win the Listed Kevin Sharkie Stakes in Hobart after a successful mainland campaign where he won the LR Bendigo Cup and Ballarat Gold Nugget.  He was also fourth home in the G3 Coongy Hcp at Caulfield and the G3 Queen’s Cup at Flemington.

Dream Pedlar’s near-hind leg was stripped during the Devonport Cup but Blacker indicated it wasn’t serious enough to hinder his preparation for the Hobart Cup.  Next up is the Jockey Club Cup on February 5 before he heads the home defence for the G3 Hobart Cup on February 13.  

“I would really love to win the Hobart Cup with him this year,” Blacker said.  “He’s been placed in the past two but is a many lengths better horse this time around.”

Dream Pedlar is by Grenville Stud sire West Quest (Gone West) and is raced by Michael Mee and Robert Nightingale who are two of Blacker’s long time stable clients.

Armidale Stud will offer a Ladoni half-brother to Dream Pedlar at the 2011 Tasmanian Magic Millions.