By Bren O'Brien
The candidates are lining up for the upcoming Ascot Racing Carnival, with Saturday's impressive Flemington winner Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) among those likely to head across the Nullarbor to tackle the rich carnival.
Dreamforce showed all his renowned speed and toughness to lead all-the-way in Saturday's G3 Chatham S. at Flemington.
The 6-year-old's trainer John Thompson, who won the G1 Railway S. at Ascot with Gathering (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) in 2010, is pondering another shot with Dreamforce at this year's race on November 24.
Trainer, John Thompson
"We'll come through this race and see where we go to. He's nominated for the Railway in Perth, or we could put him away for the autumn. I'll have a chat to the owners and go from there," Thompson said.
"It’s a bit of a frontrunners track, and I've won it before with a similar horse. He ticks all the boxes for it, but if we do go there, it probably rules him out the autumn, so we need to decide what we are going to do."
"He's a gutsy horse. You've only got to see his record. He gives you 100 per cent every time." - John Thompson
Thompson said Dreamforce had thrived despite his tough run when second in the G3 Moonga S. at Caulfield and appears to have plenty left in the tank should he make the trip to Perth.
"He's a gutsy horse. You've only got to see his record. He gives you 100 per cent every time. His run the other day at Caulfield was very good. If you watch him, he just came on very well," he said.
Foaled and raised at Kitchwin Hills, Dreamforce is out of the former top mare Eskimo Queen (NZ) (Shinko King {IRE}).
Dreamforce as a yearling
Weir army rolls west
Darren Weir is expected to send several horses over to Perth, with three of them set for a tilt at the $1 million handicap.
Weir has eight nominated for the race with Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) and Peaceful State (Animal Kingdom {USA}), who finished eighth and third respectively in the G1 Kennedy Mile, likely to be joined by Melbourne Cup Day winner Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), should that horse win at Sandown next week.
The Western Australian defence will be led by last start G3 Asian Beau S. winner Galaxy Star (Redoute's Choice), the current favourite for the race.
Saturday's upset G2 Lee-Steere S. winner Gatting (Hard Spun {USA}) is also headed to the G1 feature, having added another Group 2 to his resume following his success in the WA Derby as a 3-year-old.
“The blinkers probably made all the difference and a great ride by Lucy Warwick,” trainer Darren McAuliffe said after the race.
“The blinkers probably made all the difference and a great ride by Lucy Warwick." - Darren McAuliffe on Gatting's win in the G2 Lee-Steere S.
“You always dream of that (winning a Railway) and they’re extremely hard to win."
“It’s just great that the horse has come back and he’s in good order and he’s put the run on the board. I’m very, very proud.”
Behind Gatting on Saturday were the last two Railway S. winners in Great Shot (Magnus), who ran third, and Scales of Justice (Not A Single Doubt), who ran fifth. Both of those horses will head to the Railway as will second-placed Achenar Star (Gingerbread Man).
Previously unbeaten mare Enticing Star (Testa Rossa) was well beaten in the race and her owner Bob Peters said they would see how she recovered before pressing on with a tilt at the G1 Winterbottom S. on December 1.
