FAIRYTALE FILLY IN GUINEAS BID
Mick eyes Dream
MICK CHANNON is hoping to live the dream today with a fairytale outcome in the Qipco 1000 Guineas.
The trainer is hoping his filly Dan’s Dream can earn a spinal charity a huge windfall in the Newmarket Classic.
The horse was named after Dan Nicholls, who was paralysed from the neck down after breaking his neck when he dived into a wave on Bondi Beach in Australia.
His dad David started the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation and Dan’s Dream’s part-owner and breeder Steven Smith became involved after breaking his back jumping out of a first-floor window of his holiday home in France seven years ago to flee armed burglars.
Smith fell into a ravine and was told he would never walk again after crushing his spine and breaking a leg and arm.
Channon said: “It’s almost a Grand National story. Steven was badly injured and he’s the breeder, so it’s a great fairytale in that sense.”
Dan’s Dream, at the time unnamed, was put up for auction at a spinal injury golf day last year. Along with Smith, her owners include Sir Ian Botham and rugby giant Sir Gareth Edwards and under the terms of the auction all prize-money earned goes to the foundation.
So far, Dan’s Dream has earned a shade under £40,000 after winning two of her three starts, including last month’s Fred Darling Stakes. Earlier this week connections paid the £30,000 to supplement her for the first fillies’ Classic of the season and should she claim victory she will pick up £310,487.
Channon said: “We’ve had a quiet time with two-year-olds and haven’t found anything for two or three years, then all of a sudden one jumps out at you.
“Last year I thought Dan’s Dream was as good a two-yearold as I’ve had since Flashy Wings. We gave her a run and she came home lame, so I sent her back to the owners. We got her back in January and the rest is history. She’s been working like the good fillies we’ve had.” GIRL’S DAN GOOD: Dan’s Dream goes in the 1000 Guineas today
SUNDAY SERVICE IT’S 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket and I fully expect the fillies’ classic to go to HAPPILY (3.35).
Despite her blowout in the Breeders’ Cup, she has by far the best form going into this Group One and has reportedly been working well.
The drying ground is a huge plus for the daughter of Galileo and this should be the start of a big season at the top table.
If you are looking for an each-way play at a bigger price then I couldn’t put you off stablemate Sizzling at about 33-1. She hated the ground on her opening run in the Salsabil Stakes and could easily hit the frame on this faster surface.
The opening 1m 4f handicap is wide open and the each-way call could be OASIS FANTASY (1.50) who has plummeted in the weights, while the faster the better for EASTERN IMPACT (2.55).
Following a slow start to the campaign, David O’Meara’s yard has begun to hit form and in MA FEE HEELA (nap) (3.45) he has an unexposed handicapper worth following at Hamilton. A lightly-raced son of Siyouni, the four-year-old has been racing over further but a stiff six furlongs looks as though it could be his optimum trip, particularly with some give in the ground.
His run behind Adam’s Ale at Ripon should have sharpened him up and he gets the nap vote to see off the likes of Munfallet and Imagine If. FLEETWOOD JACK (4.55) can complete a double for the yard, while CORTON LAD (2.35) could be the each-way play in the feature event.
ANTE-POST
I am going to hit the long term road here and advise a bet in the St Leger on a John Gosden charge that really impressed me at Yarmouth this week.
An Investec Derby entry, CORELLI has been slow to come to hand and Gosden is taking a softly softly approach.
Of course, he only won a three-runner novice event at Yarmouth last week but ia closely related to another Gosden Leger hero Lucarno. Corelli looks made for that Town Moor slog.
A top price of 33-1 looks well worth taking at this stage.