Trial win enough to convince

GREG Hickman makes a strong case for $51 shot Dream Folk to cast aside his lacklustre first-up record and cause an upset in today’s TAB.com.au Handicap (1400m).

Dream Folk turned eight yesterday but looked half his age in a recent 806m Warwick Farm trial, closing off from last to be beaten just 1¾ lengths.

“I was over the moon with the trial,’’ Hickman said.

“I’ve trained him a bit differently this time. He’s only been working over 800m just to keep him a bit sharp going into this race and you see a happy horse coming off the track.’’

Dream Folk has won from 1400m to 2400m but has just registered one placing from six first-up runs before today.

“This is the first time I have trained him off an eight-week spell,’’ Hickman said.