Dream Ahead too good in Middle Park Stakes
Those who place store in statistics would have to rummage through the records books all the way back to 1991, when Rodrigo de Triano won the Middle Park Stakes and then went on to win the 2000 Guineas back at Newmarket the following spring.
None of which can detract from the victory of Dream Ahead in this year’s Group One Shadwell Middle Park Stakes.
Frankel and Saamidd, who are on course to clash in the Dewhurst Stakes later this month, have already set a good standard for the juvenile class of 2010 but Dream Ahead earned the right to be put into the same category with this authoritative performance.
The field were spread across the track heading to the final quarter-mile, with William Buick still holding Dream Ahead behind those at the front. All of which changed in the next five strides as Dream Ahead swept through imperiously. Just like he did when he won the Group One Prix Morny, at Deauville in August, Dream Ahead drifted across the track, left on this occasion, but that did not impede his stride as he won by nine lengths; and it cannot be said that Dream Ahead was beating rubbish.
Richard Hughes has never wavered in his belief that Strong Suit, the winner of the Coventry Stakes, was something special. A defeat behind Zoffany, in the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August, had only confirmed the belief that the colt needed to be held up for a run. It was a similar story Temple Meads, the runaway winner of the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes, who had ran far too freely when he was behind Approve in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York.
All three posed a formidable challenge in this race, although Temple Meads ran his race too early (a slipping saddle giving jockey Richard Mullen no real control), and both Strong Suit and Approve tried to make a race of it. And it was a close one, with Strong Suit getting the verdict by just a short-head, but they were only fighting over second place because the winner had long since flown nine lengths clear in the final furlong to remain unbeaten in three starts.
If this was the coming-of-age race for the horse it was just one more highlight in the coming-of-age season for his jockey. Buick, 22, who was appointed stable jockey to John Gosden for the start of this season, was winning his fourth Group or Grade One race of the season and manages the priceless mixture of the sang-froid of a veteran during a race and the enthusiasm of a newcomer either side of it.
His enthusiasm for this horse had been fired when he won a maiden at Nottingham 11 weeks ago and Buick said: “He’s an amazing horse. I’ve been impressed with him ever since I rode him at Nottingham. He hung a long way across the track, but that’s just him – he’s still a bit of a baby – but he gives you a feel like no other horse has given me. He swallows them up – he’ll be alright when he keeps straight – bring on next year.”
David Simcock can also look forward to next year and back on this one in which Dream Ahead has given the trainer his first Group One winners.
"He is an exciting horse and this is just very much a relief. Before he won in France, I had my own expectations but today everyone else had expectations as well so I’m relieved it has worked out. We are very, very lucky to have a horse like him," Simcock said. "I know that I might not get another horse like him for 10 years or maybe not again in my career.
"The only thing - I am being harsh, of course - was when William asked him forward about three furlongs out, he just rushed forward. But William has ridden him very confidently and he has had a lot of belief in the horse.
"I’d like to think that there is more to come and something to look forward to. He won’t run with anything firm in the description this year. In France, it dried out and was good ground - the times will tell you that - and we have always felt that he would be better with cut in the ground. But as long as there is not a ‘firm’ in the going description then I’m happy to run him anywhere.
"He has a nice way of going and was just a bit green when he hit the front. He was a bit bolshy to saddle but that’s just him. While he’s very mature physically, he’s still maturing mentally and I there’s no reason why he shouldn’t keep going forward next year.”
The obvious target for Simcock to look at this season would be the Dewhurst – the last horse to achieve the double was Diesis in 1982 – which he was not ready to commit to until a thorough discussion of the subject with Dream Ahead’s owner, Khalifa Dasmal.
"The Dewhurst is something I’ll discuss with his owner and I’ve no doubt about him staying the seven-furlong trip there, I think he probably wants that now. I’m not so sure about a mile next year. He’s by the much the sharpest stallion [Diktat] the mare [Land of Dreams] has been to but she has produced horses who get a mile and a half and a mile by stouter stallions. But his style of running and the way he relaxes in a race gives every indication that he should get a mile."
Either way both Simcock and Buick have something to dream about.
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http://www.senore.com/Cityscape-romps-home-by-seven-lengths-in-Joel-Stakes-a31136
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