I’m A Dreamer

Izzi Top won the Grade 2 Middleton Stakes nicely at York on Thursday, but I’m A Dreamer may be the one to take out of the race.

The daughter of Noverre travelled well into the straight on the inside, she was making progress but she went to go to the right of early leader Mohedian Lady three furlongs out instead of tracking Izzi Top and Sajjhaa through, as she had been doing. Mohedian Lady edged to her right as she faded, falling into I’m A Dreamer’s lap a little, and both Timepiece and Sea Of Heartbreak were on her outside, so there wasn’t much room for David Simcock’s filly to squeeze through. She lost valuable ground and momentum at a crucial time as a result as the front pair quickened, she was four or five lengths down coming inside the final furlong before she stayed on well to take third place, closest at the finish.

These things are easy in hindsight, but if Jimmy Fortune had remained where he was, and following the front two deeper into the race, she would have finished much closer. She was picking up well and was travelling nicely at the time that she was switched. The result may well have been the same, but given how close she got to Sajjhaa at the line, she may have got past the Godolphin mare, and it is conceivable that she might have beaten Izzi Top too.

I’m A Dreamer didn’t run at two but she has developed into a high-class mare now, she was only just touched off in the Grade 1 EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine at the end of last season, proving that she stayed 10 furlongs, and she could yet have more to come, especially at this trip. She is better than she showed here, and she will be interesting wherever she goes next, as she may well be under-rated a little after this, with the bare form of the race suggesting she was no real match for Izzi Top.

17th May 2012