By Tom Frary
Pitched in against the colts in a winnable renewal of the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}–Livia's Dream {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) put them to the sword to reward Ed Walker's enterprise. Putting it all together with a career-best success in Newmarket's G2 Dahlia S. at the start of the month, the 5-1 shot was kept close to the leader Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) by Kieran Shoemark before brushing last year's Champion S. hero aside in early straight. Staying on powerfully as the closers struggled to make inroads, she hit the line with two lengths to spare over the outsider Wally (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) as Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) edged third, a further neck behind. “Kieran said she's improved so much, but I don't know where it's come from,” Walker commented. “She's taken a lot of figuring out, but is mentally easier on herself these days. A performance like that would give her a chance against most.”
Dreamloper first demonstrated her latent class when handing a 4 1/2-length beating to Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Valiant S. over a mile at Ascot in July, but dropping back to seven was the wrong way to go on her next start when fourth in Newbury's G2 Hungerford S. Disappointing when 10th in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September, the bay bounced back to be third in the G1 Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket in October but all evidence so far points to her having upped her game again in 2022. “Ever since the end of last year when she finished third in the Sun Chariot she's done nothing but progress,” her trainer added. “There is the Rothschild and the Romanet, but the Nassau is the perfect fit.”
Shoemark echoed that feeling. “I was so lucky to gain my first group one win on Lady Bowthorpe and I think this filly is a similar type who would love it in the Nassau,” he said. “She had won the race two and a half out. She was very impressive–when I asked her to quicken she was instantly responsive.”
Dreamloper's dam Livia's Dream (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was successful in the 12-furlong Listed Wild Flower S., is out of the Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. winner Brindisi (GB) (Dr. Fong) whose listed-placed half-sister La Spezia (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) produced the G2 Doncaster Cup hero Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling). This is the family of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), whose daughter Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) captured the G2 Prix Corrida. Livia's Dream also has the unraced 2-year-old filly Dreamrocker (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and a yearling filly by Golden Horn (GB).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX D'ISPAHAN-G1, €250,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-29, 4yo/up, 9 1/4fT, 1:53.74, g/s.
1–DREAMLOPER (IRE), 125, m, 5, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Livia's Dream (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Teofilo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Brindisi (GB), by Dr Fong
3rd Dam: Genoa (GB), by Zafonic
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Jason Fill; B-Mrs Olivia Hoare (IRE); T-Ed Walker; J-Kieran Shoemark. €142,850. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Eng, 14-5-1-3, €353,528. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wally (Ire), 128, g, 5, Siyouni (Fr)–Full of Beauty (GB), by Motivator (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€130,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Pierre Barjon; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran, SAS I.E.I., Carlos Lerner & Yann Lerner (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €57,150.
3–Pretty Tiger (Ire), 128, c, 4, Sea the Moon (Ger)–Fast and Pretty (Ire), by Zamindar. (€105,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Bernard Giraudon; B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (IRE); T-Pia & Joakim Brandt. €28,575.
Margins: 2, NK, SHD. Odds: 5.20, 12.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Dilawar (Ire), Sealiway (Fr), Dawn Intello (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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