By Tom Frary
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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