Dream of Dreams Lands First Group 1 in Sprint Cup

If ever a horse deserved top-level honors it was Dream of Dreams, who finally broke through the group 1 ceiling Sept. 5 in Haydock's premier flat race.

The Betfair Sprint Cup (G1) has become the domain of 3-year-olds but a horse twice that age and in the form of his life powered home under Oisin Murphy to deny Hollie Doyle a famous success on Glen Shiel.

Doyle, riding in her first group 1 in Britain, was bang in contention on the 25-1 shot two furlongs out, but Dream of Dreams, an impressive winner over seven furlongs in last month's Unibet Hungerford Stakes (G2), finished strongest to score by a length and a quarter and make up for two near-misses at Royal Ascot.

In the last two runnings of the Diamond Jubilee (G1), Dream of Dreams was beaten a head, including in 2019 by Blue Point, who was virtually unbeatable at the Berkshire course.

"I'm delighted he's got his group 1 win, he's more than deserved it," said Murphy, who was winning the Sprint Cup for a second time after success on another 6-year-old, The Tin Man, two years ago.

"I was really excited about getting back on him as he gave me an incredible feel at Newbury and I'm thrilled he backed it up. He traveled well and picked up well to the line. He didn't have that electric burst he showed at Newbury, but he was very good."

There was poignancy to the victory for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, following the death of his long-term partner Coral Pritchard-Gordon last month.

"I'm thrilled for Sir Michael and his team," added Murphy after a victory that brought up his century in Britain for the year. "After losing his partner Coral, it's been a tough few weeks and hopefully that will give him a lift." 

It was a third win in the race for Stoute, coming 33 years on from consecutive victories in the 1980s with Green Desert and Ajdal.

Dream of Dreams, who has shown more consistency this season since being gelded, was cut to general favorite for next month's QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1), with William Hill a best-priced 7-2 (from 9-2).

Philip Robinson, representing owner Saeed Suhail, said: "He's been gelded and is just discovering what ability he has got. The way he went and won at Newbury did him the world of good. 

"He's thriving and now he's got his confidence, it's onwards and upwards. He's 6 years old and could be a better 7-year-old. We'll talk it over but he likes Ascot and my gut feeling is he'll go there next."

The son of Dream Ahead—winner of the Sprint Cup in 2011—will need to pass a stalls test before then after he was the subject of a third-criteria failure down at the start.

A week after making history with a five-timer at Windsor, jockey of the moment Doyle came close to her biggest success on the Archie Watson-trained Glen Shiel. 

She said: "I thought I might win two out. I got a massive buzz out of that and I'm so proud of him. He rallied when headed and chased the winner all the way to the line. I'm so pleased for Archie and the owners (Hambleton Racing).

"That was a massive run, so I don't see why he can't win a group 1. We have to pinch ourselves about what he's achieved. I'd say Champions Day will be the next target."