California Dreamer

California Dreamer did well to get as close as she did in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes at The Curragh last Sunday. Weak in the market beforehand, she was well back in the field early on, rider David Egan had to explore a few different options as they raced inside the two-furlong marker. She had to check back again at the furlong marker before she eventually got a little bit of a gap when Fiery Lucy went forward. That was too late, but she finished off her race well to take fourth place, just failing to catch Barnavara for third.

It was a big run by Adrian Murray’s filly, on her first run since July and her first try at seven furlongs. She had to race away from the favoured stands rail for most of the journey, and her weakness in the market suggests that she could come on appreciably for this run. Fifth in the Albany Stakes and second in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes over six furlongs, she saw out the seventh furlong here well, and that opens up options for her. Her dam won the German Oaks, so it may be that she will get even further in time.

The Curragh, 29^th September 2024