Dark Dream (Aus) (All American) has displayed consistency throughout his career, never running out of the placings in 10 tries, and he bounced back from a last-out defeat as the favourite in the G3 Grand Prix over this track and trip two weeks ago to land Doomben's G1 Queensland Derby on Saturday. According to trainer Kerry Parker, who was also earning his maiden Group 1 score, the gelding had legitimate excuses last time, having stepped on a lost shoe and trodden on a toe clip before finishing third.
“He was basically running on three legs last time, it was probably a huge effort for him to get as close as he did that day,” Parker told Racenet.com.au. “They always say you should forgive a horse for one bad run, and it wasn't even a bad run considering the genuine excuses he had.”
Dispatched the 16-5 favourite, Dark Dream swung into the straight four-wide and up with the leaders. Collaring the front-running Heavenly Thought (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) passing the 100 metre mark, Dark Dream had to fend off that stubborn rival to win by a quarter length.
Pedigree Notes…
While Dark Dream is by far the most accomplished runner under his first three dams, his extended family includes the G1 Victoria Derby winners Nothin' Leica Dane (Aus) (Danehill) and Redding (Aus) (Nassipour {Aus}), as well as the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Leica Smile (Aus) (At Talaq {Aus}), under the fifth dam. The unraced dam Buchanan Girl (Aus) (Lion Hunter) has been useful in her own right, with each of her living foals of racing age being multiple winners.
Saturday, Doomben, Australia
QUEENSLAND DERBY-G1, A$609,867, BRC, 6-9, 3yo, Open Set Weight, 2200mT, 2:19.31, Heavy.
1–DARK DREAM, 57.0, g, 3, by All American
1st Dam: Buchanan Girl, by Lion Hunter
2nd Dam: Leica Maizcay, by Our Maizcay
3rd Dam: Ohau Leica (NZ), by Kingdom Bay (NZ)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Miss M Basson & Miss J M Wilson;
B-Miss JE Healey NSW; T-K J Parker; J-Tim Clark; A$375,867.
Lifetime Record: 10-4-5-1, A$596,518. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Heavenly Thought, 57.0, c, 3, So You Think (NZ)–God Love It,
by St Covet. (A$120,000 Ylg 2016 MM Gold Coast Yearling
Sale) O-T Bates, M T C D Racing (Mgr: Miss A Maiden),
Seventomany (Mgr: C Lewis), G Swann, M Hunter, G Sposato,
M Catanzariti, C Mathieson, The Herbie (Mgr: E Aldridge), R
Cocks, J Bono, S; B-Mr PH Byers QLD; T-D K Weir; J-B Rawiller;
A$123,000.
3–Youngstar, 55.0, f, 3, High Chaparral (IRE)–Starspangled (IRE),
by Danehill (USA). (A$200,000 Ylg 2016 WI Melbourne Premier
Yearling Sale) O-Unifaith Bloodstock (Mgr: A J Koolman),
Archer Racing (Mgr: A A Inglis), Mrs C J Inglis, Mrs J Minahan, G
Minahan, R Atra, Mrs C M A Atra, P C Shadbolt, Mrs K J
Shadbolt, J K Sheather; B-Mr J Sheather NSW; T-C J Waller; J-K
Mc Evoy; A$63,000.
Margins: 0.2 len, 3.0 len, 3.2 len. Odds: 3.20, 7.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Augustus, Mahamedeis, Rezealient, Lucky for All (NZ), Han Xin, Almighty Crown, Merovee, Banner Season, Turnberry, Patrician (NZ), Captivator, California Turbo, Won Won Too (NZ).
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree.
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