Category: Horse Racing News

Dream Ahead’s Dream of Dreams Wins the Sprint Cup

Finally gaining the top-level success his record demanded, Saeed Suhail’s Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) justified 5-2 favouritism in a strong renewal of Haydock’s G1 Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday. Tracking the correct pace racing among the stand’s-side group throughout the early stages, the ultra-impressive G2 Hungerford S. winner was delivered by Oisin Murphy to lead passing the furlong pole. Despite the game efforts of Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) from there, the Freemason Lodge stalwart had too much in hand and hit the line with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the former, with a neck back to the consistent Golden Horde in third. “I was really excited about getting back on him, as the feel he gave me the last day was incredible so I’m thrilled he backed that up,” Murphy said. “He travelled well and picked up slowly–he didn’t have that burst like last time but I think it was because he didn’t have a lot to race with. He tends to drift a little left and doesn’t do much in front, but I had Golden Horde that way for something to race with. To ride group 1 winners for Sir Michael Stoute is the stuff of dreams.”

Dream of Dreams’ seven-length Hungerford romp was not coming out of turn, with conditions ideal there as he moved back up to seven furlongs again Aug. 15. Equally as effective over this trip, as he had shown when a strong-closing runner-up in the last two editions of Royal Ascot’s G1 Diamond Jubilee S., he had at times in the past two years disappointed when it came to the crunch in the major sprints and was only eighth in this in 2019. In a good place since being gelded after also flopping in the G1 QIPCO British Champion Sprint S. at Ascot in October, he had built on his June 20 Diamond Jubilee effort with his emphatic Newbury triumph and capped it with this achievement. Back over the course and distance over which he broke his maiden in May 2016 when trained by Kevin Ryan, the chestnut was eventually reaching the summit.

With so many notable sprinters well beaten here, connections have no fear of targetting the upcoming Champions Sprint and the owner’s representative Philip Robinson said, “He’s just all of a sudden improved. The gelding has helped, without a shadow of a doubt. His mind is in the job. He’s a different horse now and I think Sir Michael’s big trick with him is to keep him fresh and he’s giving him plenty of time between races. He’s thriving. He’s discovering how easy it is and now he’s got his confidence, onwards and upwards. Champions Day is very possible. I think that will probably be his next target.”

Dream of Dreams is likely to meet Glen Shiel there after another honourable run from the improved fellow 6-year-old. “He rallied when headed and he’s chased the winner all the way to the line,” jockey Hollie Doyle said. “I can’t fault him. I thought I might win two down. Nothing was on my girths, but then the winner started coming. He ran a massive race and Archie has done an amazing job placing him throughout the season. He keeps improving himself and I didn’t expect to travel as well as he did–he surprised me.”

The winner’s unraced dam Vasilia (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has also produced the G3 Solario S. runner-up Silverheels (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) and the Listed Dragon S. runner-up Lasilia (Ire) Acclamation {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the listed-placed Brassica (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Vasilia is kin to the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), whose three black-type winners include the G3 Lanwades Stud Fillies’ S. winner Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the Listed Curragh S. winner and G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Meow (Ire) (Storm Cat). She achieved notoriety as Broodmare of the Year in 2017 courtesy of the exploits of her Galileo progeny Churchill (Ire) and Clemmie (Ire). Airwave’s ill-fated half-sister Jwala (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) caused an upset when winning the G1 Nunthorpe S. before being fatally-injured in the 2013 G1 Hong Kong Sprint. Vasilia’s 2-year-old colt Fantastic Fox (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was bought by SackvilleDonald for 260,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, while her yearling filly by Galileo (Ire) is due to sell at the upcoming Book 1.

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP S.-G1, £225,000, Haydock, 9-5, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:14.07, sf.
1–DREAM OF DREAMS (IRE), 129, g, 6, by Dream Ahead
1st Dam: Vasilia (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Kangra Valley (GB), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Thorner Lane (GB), by Tina’s Pet (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (37,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; £44,000 RNA Ylg ’15 DNPRM). O-Saeed Suhail; B-Prostock Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Oisin Murphy. £133,200. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 28-7-9-2, $682,756. *1/2 to Silverheels (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), MGSP-Eng, $206,229; and Lasilia (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), MSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–2–Glen Shiel (GB), 129, g, 6, Pivotal (GB)–Gonfilia (Ger), by Big Shuffle. (£45,000 5yo ’19 GOFSPR). O-Hambleton Racing XXXVI & Partner; B-Darley (GB); T-Archie Watson. £50,378.
3–Golden Horde (Ire), 127, c, 3, Lethal Force (Ire)–Entreat (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (£65,000 Ylg ’18 GOUKPR). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-CN Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £25,178.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 2.50, 25.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Art Power (Ire), Hello Youmzain (Fr), The Tin Man (GB), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Summerghand (Ire), Brando (GB), Archer’s Dream (Ire), Forever In Dreams (Ire), Queen Jo Jo (GB), Tabdeed (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Stroll For Enable In the September

John Gosden could hardly have scripted a better 2020 for Clarehaven’s standard-bearer Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Saturday’s G3 Unibet September S. at Kempton turned out the predicted stroll all expected as she works towards her historic Arc attempt. Providing the only anxious moment for 1-14 backers when awkward from the stalls, the Juddmonte juggernaut was soon in command as Frankie showed his intent to keep it simple. Tracked throughout by Kirstenbosch (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), she went through the contest like a piece of strong exercise and there were seven lengths to spare over that unexposed 4-year-old at the line. “She did it very nicely, very smoothly,” her trainer said. “The track is riding deeper than usual and Frankie felt she didn’t find it as easy to be as fluent on as she normally is. She normally springs off that, but it’s just riding a bit sticky. Apart from that he was absolutely delighted with her. She has had a nice blow and a good day out. She was idling a bit in front and the race would have just brought her on nicely. She will have a nice easy 10 days and then we will build up to the Arc.”

Bar encountering the mighty presence of Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) when making her seasonal bow in the July 5 G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown, Enable’s current campaign has gone like clockwork with her bringing up a unique treble in Ascot’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. July 25 that might stand unmatched for some time. Gosden now has to deliver her for her date with destiny on the first Sunday next month. “She came close last year and we will do our best to put that right, but what she has done already with all the races she has won is pretty extraordinary,” he added. “She was fresh to saddle and was quick with her hind feet. She was just full of herself. I think down at the start didn’t help as she was waiting for the other horse to be reshod. Frankie floated up there and she had a nice race–perfectly what you want, with hands and heels.”

“I think it was probably three-quarters mental and one-quarter physical preparation today,” he continued. “This was as much to mentally let her let a little steam off and chill her and give her 10 days and build her up to the Arc. The race will just sharpen her mental attitude. She found it difficult to get to her racing weight and I didn’t want to push her in any way. She got tired in the last furlong in the Eclipse, but ran a lovely race and then came back in the King George. That was the most important part, as her metabolism changed. She is wiser now and a 6-year-old mare is different to a 3-year-old filly. She is robust and she does have that mental strength. The great tennis players get to that fifth set and when they are two sets all it is mental strength that wins it above anything else.”

Looking ahead to the opposition at ParisLongchamp, Gosden has his eye in particular on Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “We have got tons of respect for the Oaks winner, who is a brilliant filly and is getting the weight allowance Enable did when she was that age,” he said. “You would love to see the ground good-to-soft, you don’t want to see it bottomless but it is next to the River Seine and we are in the autumn.”

Enable’s finale in her native country came just 24 hours after her 2-year-old half-brother Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) put in such a promising debut when second at Ascot. The listed-winning and group-placed dam Concentric (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) also has a yearling full-brother to Enable and by the time he is enjoying his first outing it could be that she has a second Classic winner. Also the dam of the G2 Prix de Pomone runner-up Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and the G3 Musidora S. runner-up Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), she is a daughter of the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Apogee (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) and a full-sister to the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Dance Routine (GB). She is in turn the dam of the multiple top-level winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the second dam of the GII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup winner Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and last year’s G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano winner Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Saturday, Kempton, Britain
UNIBET SEPTEMBER S.-G3, £56,000, Kempton, 9-5, 3yo/up, 11f 219y (AWT), 2:30.33, st/sl.
1–ENABLE (GB), 135, m, 6, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl, by Ile de Bourbon
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £31,758. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, 2x Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Eng & Fr at 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng & Fr, G1SW-Ire & GISW-US, 18-15-2-1, $14,062,824. *1/2 to Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSP-Fr; and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kirstenbosch (GB), 128, f, 4, Mount Nelson (GB)–Kassiyra (Ire), by Kendor (Fr). (22,000gns RNA Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O/B-Fittocks Stud (GB); T-James Fanshawe. £12,040.
3–Prince of Arran (GB), 131, g, 7, Shirocco (Ger)–Storming Sioux (GB), by Storming Home (GB). O-Saeed Bel Obaida; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. £6,026.
Margins: 7, HD, 8. Odds: 0.07, 33.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Almania (Ire), Punting (Ire), Fox Tal (GB). Scratched: Tinandali (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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TDN Q&A With Billy Jackson-Stops

With the yearling sales now in full swing, TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and gets their perspective on the sales for the next few weeks. Billy Jackson-Stops answers our questions today.

TDN: What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite?

BJS: I set up JS Bloodstock Consultancy in the summer of 2018 and bought my first yearlings that year. Those 2018 yearling purchases resulted in my best purchase to date which was Shadn (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), who won the Listed Rosebowl S. and G2 Criterium De Maisons Laffitte last year before heading to the States to take her place in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She and a little horse called Soldierpoy (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) would be my favourites. Shadn was very sweet natured and was a very determined horse, whereas Soldierpoy, who Tom Clover and I bought for £7,000 last year, was completely the opposite. He was shockingly behaved each time I saw him at the sales, but he was structurally very neat and came from a good breeder. The temperament never left him, he was always a handful in training but he was very quick and ended up finishing third in the Super Sprint, having won a race, and was subsequently sold at the August sale for £67,000, a great touch for the owners.

TDN: Is there any positive you have taken from how the sales have been conducted this year?

BJS: The overall positive is that the sales are on and all credit goes to the sales houses who have worked tirelessly to make that happen. It’s great to have seen the separate sales houses coming together and successfully getting horses sold. They deserve a huge amount of praise for being able to hold the sales in what has been an unpredictable and difficult year.

TDN: How has your business adapted?

BJS: We’ve focused on a bigger online presence. Without being able to travel and meet prospective clients personally, it’s been important for those people to have been able to see our work and what we do through our website and social media pages. We also upped our communications by making use of The Racing Manager app which has been a huge help in keeping clients up to date, whether it’s videos of horses training, entries and declarations or voice notes directly from the jockeys after the horses have raced, we’ve tried to keep everyone as informed as possible.

TDN: In general what are your thoughts on the 2020 yearling catalogues? And what progeny of new stallions are you most looking forward to?

BJS: The catalogues are very much in line with previous years in terms of quality and quantity, other than the Tattersalls Ascot Sale which has almost doubled in size with consignors looking to get a five week jump on what would have been their other option in Tattersalls Book 3. Some consignors have taken the view they might do better selling earlier in a stand-alone sale rather than at the end of a long two weeks of Book 1, 2 and 3.

Having done the first yearling sale at Goffs UK already I was impressed with the progeny of the two Scat Daddy horses in El Kabeir and Caravaggio. But having seen a lot of the progeny of Profitable (Ire) at Goffs UK I’m most looking forward to seeing his stock hit the track, they looked a good group and I’m sure we’ll see a lot of those at Royal Ascot next year.

TDN: Did you develop any new interests or hobbies during lockdown?

BJS: I felt fit for probably the first time since leaving school. There was quite a lot of running and eating healthy throughout lockdown, all of which has gone out of the window since sales have started again. I did a lot of reading as well; I really enjoy biographies and autobiographies, the best of which were Andre Agassi’s, Peter Moody’s and that of a tough ex-army man called Mick Dawson who rowed the Pacific from Japan to San Francisco on his second attempt at it having sunk his boat in the middle of the pacific on his first attempt.

TDN: Who’s the most interesting person you know?

BJS: My Dad is without question the most interesting person I know. He’s full of stories from throughout his life from successfully firing fireworks directly through the window of his headmaster’s office while he was at school, to getting his pilot’s licence and racing cars all around Europe; he seems to have packed a lot into his life. He worked full time in property and still somehow, despite the work, family and machines, found the time to read a lot and therefore seems to know a huge amount about random aspects of life.

TDN: What’s one mistake (if any) you made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

BJS: I never spent much time with an agent before setting up myself and therefore didn’t know the intricacies of running a bloodstock consultancy, so my entire career to date has been based on trial and error, a lot of error! So in hindsight I wish I’d spent a few years working with an established agent before going on my own.

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