Dream Ahead

September ushered in the early rounds of the yearling sales in Europe, with the Goffs UK Premier, BBAG, Tattersalls Ascot and Arqana Select sales all having taken place within the last fortnight. Three of that quartet have at least been able to take place in their intended venues, albeit Arqana's flagship sale was three weeks later than usual. The one-day Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale was moved to Newmarket, and Park Paddocks will also host the Tattersalls Irelend September Sale next week, which has been reduced to two days from three,...

It was all about the fillies and mares in Sunday's G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five at The Curragh, with last year's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp heroine Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) prevailing after a tussle with compatriot Keep Busy (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Last seen finishing second to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Goodwood's G2 King George S. July 31, the Bearstone Stud homebred was in touch against the far rail but under the pump at halfway. Rallying gamely to wear down Keep Busy in the...

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...

For so long one of those "nearly horses" in the best company, Saeed Suhail's Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) had all the cards fall in his favour on Saturday and duly showed what he is made of with a romp through the easy ground in Newbury's G2 Unibet Hungerford S. Always cantering in the hands of Oisin Murphy, the 13-8 favourite who was last seen finishing a painfully narrow runner-up in Royal Ascot's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. June 20 was given the green light two out and surged clear...

With more time on their hands than usual, stars of the weighing-room past and present have been reflecting on memorable equine partners over the years. Today, HAYLEY TURNER is in the hot seat... Best horse you've ridden? The best horse I've ridden has to be Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}). He made it so easy for me. Getting on him was the hardest part but actually winning the race was the easy bit. I'd never sat on him until the July Cup—that's how easy he was. Favourite horse? The horse I've had the most...

With the doors of breeding sheds about to swing open for yet another season, we bring you the sixth and final installment of TDN Europe's Value Sires series. No longer are we judging stallions on their promise alone or their preliminary racetrack merits: these are the proven battlers, with real numbers behind them. No hiding places anymore. For this installment, we will focus on proven sires standing for £/€20,000 and below. This can be a tricky segment of the market to stand a proven horse in, with many sires in...