When you have only tasted defeat once in 14 starts, it's hard to achieve new personal bests but somehow Dream About Me has found a way to raise the bar again.
Mark Purdon was left in no doubt the star filly's win in the Group I New Zealand Oaks at a wet and windy Addington on Saturday was a career-best run.
Win number 14 of her career came from a second-line draw and she had to go around the field three wide without cover which took more than half a lap.
But despite doing much more work than any other filly in the race, Dream About Me found a way to win by half a length over stablemate Golden Goddess with a further two-and-a-quarter lengths back to Arden's Choice in third.
The death of part-owner June Roberts last week made the filly's performance even more special for her connections.
Roberts was the wife of Dream About Me's breeder and co-owner Charlie Roberts.
Their daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Paul Kenny are also in the ownership of the half sister to Christen Me.
Even Purdon, who co-trains the Bettor's Delight filly with Natalie Rasmussen, was in awe of her performance.
"It would have to be her best performance, she's won a lot of great races and gone great but to overcome the position she was in today and get up and win it … she's a champion," he said.
Dream About Me paced the 2600m in 3:11.60, a much better effort than it seems given the brutal run she had and the slushy nature of the track.
Dream About Me will be a warm favourite for the three-year-old Diamond at the Harness Jewels but Purdon is not writing off stablemates Golden Goddess and Piccadilly Princess.
He said the barrier draws will be crucial.
Dream About Me
Meanwhile, a brush of the magic All Stars polish has been enough for Titan Banner to hand Christen Me his first defeat since returning to the race track from his viral setback.
The champion pacer was beaten by a short neck by the former Graeme Anderson-trained 4-year-old in the 69th running of the Winter Cup (3200m).
In just his second run for the All Stars barn of Purdon and Rasmussen, Titan Banner notched win number 10 at just his 26th start.
The time of 3:59.60 was exceptional in driving rain and blustery conditions.
Christen Me did start 20m behind Titan Banner from his 30m handicap and his trainer Cran Dalgety will not be losing much sleep over the result.
Impressed with the time, Dalgety said the two-mile test in difficult conditions will do his winner of more than $2.3 million in stakes the world of good before he heads across the Tasman for the Group I Len Smith Mile.
"He's gone great and he's had a good blow-up over the back so we're on the right track. Mark's (Purdon) one was just a bit good for us on the day."
Dalgety did not want to make excuses but there is no question the run of Christen Me was more than acceptable for his third run back and with the handicap factored in.
Titan Banner's form will likely see him make a serious play for Field Marshal's favouritism in the four-year-old Emerald, especially following Field Marshal's minor bout of colic earlier in the week.
Titan Banner was aided by an aggressive drive from Purdon who was quick to move when a mid-race move from Mighty Flying Mac left him in the trial and gave Christen Me the opportunity to move around the field to the lead.
Titan Banner
Heaven Rocks' win in the last race of the day gave Purdon his fifth driving win for the day and the sixth training win for he and Rasmussen.
Heaven Rocks
Mat Kermeen