Goldream

Goldream stepped up massively on his reappearance run behind Hamza at Newmarket on 1000 Guineas day to run a cracker to finish a close second to Ancient Cross in the Class 2 five-furlong handicap at York last Thursday.

Dropping back to five furlongs for the first time in his career, Robert Cowell’s horse travelled well just behind the leaders towards the near side of the group, and he was going just about as well as anything two furlongs out. He switched towards the far side with a furlong and a half to run, however, and got stuck in behind the pace-setters Judge N Jury and Magical Macey, neither of whom were going on, they were both just sticking on at the same pace. With Ancient Cross picking up on the near side, Jim Crowley had to switch Goldream back again to get a run. He had to stop riding to do so and then pull him not just around Judge N Jury, but all the way around Ancient Cross too, all of which cost him at least a length.

Although he was then left with too much to do, the manner in which he was able to pick up again when in the clear through the final half furlong was impressive, and he was closing quickly on the winner at the line and was in front a few strides after it.

The Oasis Dream gelding proved here that he could be effective over five furlongs, and a quick five furlongs at that. He was a progressive horse last year as a three-year-old for Luca Cumani. Although he did shape like a strong stayer over six furlongs, he showed a new side with his pace here. He was just too free on his previous run at Newmarket, his first run for Robert Cowell, and he had clearly come on a good deal for that, as most of Cowell’s horses have done for their first runs this season. He can go on again from this, there is a big sprint handicap in him now at least, and he is in the right hands to allow him progress as a sprinter.

16th May 2013