David Simcock admits to ‘question mark’ over Dream Ahead’s stamina
David Simcock ends this turf Flat season with his first Group One-winning horse but admits to some doubts for 2011.
The trainer is certain that Dream Ahead is better than his poor showing when he finished only fifth of six behind Frankel in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes. The Diktat colt - who previously won both the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes, which he won by nine lengths - never really got into contention in the Dewhurst and was beaten seven lengths.
Dream Ahead never looked to be travelling with the fluency that he had shown in the Middle Park, where his demolition of a quality field earned him an official handicap rating of 128, which has since been dropped by 2lbs.
Speaking on his website, Simcock said: “He was being asked to try and do what no horse before had previously achieved - win the Morny, Middle Park and Dewhurst - and it was one race too far. He has had a quiet time since the Dewhurst and he has been allowed to put weight back on. I’m delighted with him now and he is a happy horse.”
Having analysed the colt’s performances this season, which started with a nine-length win in a Nottingham maiden in July, Simcock has come to the conclusion that he must map out next year’s programme with a view to protecting Dream Ahead from his own excesses. “I get the impression that he takes his racing quite hard as he really puts a lot into it,” he said.
“He has been a massive success story for us this year. I said at the start of the season that we needed that Group One horse and we’ve been very lucky as Dream Ahead came along.”
However, Simcock accepts that he may be pushing his luck when he runs Dream Ahead in next year’s 2000 Guineas in terms of whether his horse will have the stamina for the mile. “There has to be a question-mark about him getting a mile next year,” he said. ”But I will train him from the perspective that he will stay and the racetrack will be where we really find out.”
Before that Simcock team, whose 48 winners to date is already ahead of his previous best of 44 from last year, and the trainer plans to have a team of five for the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival which will be headed by Bushman, who won the Group Three Diomed Stakes at Epsom’s Derby meeting in June.
“There is a nice programme for Bushman in Dubai and we have the pick of four races for him,” he said. “We’ll keep him to Group Twos and it should suit him out there.”
Ahlaain, fifth but only beaten two lengths in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket on his last start, will also be on the plane. “Ahlaain will be aimed at a seven-furlong conditions race and if all went well there then we would have a look at the UAE 2000 Guineas for him.”
The five-strong team will be completed by Noble Citizen, Jaroslaw - recovered after a setback last spring at the Carnival - and Rjeef, a new recruit to the Simcock yard.
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