Unibet Hungerford Stakes
Group 2, Newbury 15:35
£60,000 added,
3yo plus,
7f, Class 1   
Saturday 15th August 2020

SureWIn

1 Dream Of Dreams 13/8F
2 Breathtaking Look 17/2
3 Symbolize 9/1
9 ran NR: Threat Distances: 7l, 4½l, 2l
Time: 1m 24.35s (slow by 2.25s)

Having filled the runner-up spot in nine of his previous 26 starts – including for the second year running in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on his return in June – the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Dream Of Dreams gelding enjoyed a change of luck in the Group Two prize.

Racing just behind the early pace cut out by Lincoln Bright, the Saeed Suhail-owned six year old – who finished second in the 2018 renewal of the seven-furlong contest – moved effortlessly into contention on the bridle under Oisin Murphy approaching the closing stages.

Once sent on by the champion jockey the response was immediate, with the 13-8 favourite quickening smartly in a matter of strides to cross the line seven lengths clear of Breathtaking Look, before being walked back in to the sounds of Fleetwood Mac’s chart-topper Dreams, following an initiative by the sponsor.

Stoute’s assistant James Horton said: “He travelled very well through that and picked up nicely. He always threatened to win a big one and I’m delighted for everyone at home that has done a great job with him.

“He has been knocking on the door, this lad. He has been second in two Diamond Jubilees and has been very unlucky not to win either. It’s great for Saeed to have another big winner with a proper horse, and it’s great for the boss.”

Though Dream Of Dreams was quoted for the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock by the race sponsors, plans for his next outing remain fluid.

Horton said: “I think he is very versatile and can go six or seven. He just needs a nice pace and something to aim at.

“We will have to see how he is. We think he runs best fresh so we will get him home, freshen him up and see where we go from here.

“We have to run him when he is bouncing and if he isn’t, it is not right. Before Ascot and today we have been very pleased with him, so we know the timing is right.

“We will talk to Saeed, Bruce Raymond and the boss. No plans are imminent anyway.”

Trainers Quotes

The victory was a poignant one in a week that Stoute has had to come to terms with the loss of his long-term partner Coral Pritchard-Gordon, following a long battle with illness. 

Horton said: “It will mean a lot to everyone. It is a very sad time at Freemason Lodge at the moment. Coral was a rock for everyone in the yard, the boss more than anyone. She looked after everyone. She was always the first person to come out and make sure everyone was OK.

“If anyone had any issues or problems she was always the person to go to. It has been a tough week. This is a very poignant winner for the boss and everyone at home.”

It was a second Pattern-race success inside of a week for Stoute, who claimed a Group Three triumph with Regal Reality at Salisbury on Sunday, and Horton hopes it is a sign of things to come for the rest of the season.

He added: “We started well, then we just hit a bit of a flat spot, but the horses seem very well at the moment. They all seem to be running well and long may it continue.”

BetZone

Hungerford Stakes
£60,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2)    Dream Of Dreams 6 9-6 Sir Michael Stoute Oisin Murphy 13/8F
2 (1) 7 Breathtaking Look t 5 9-3 Stuart Williams Adam Kirby 17/2
3 (8) 4½ Symbolize 3 9-0 Andrew Balding David Probert 9/1
4 (9) 2 Namos 4 9-6 D Moser Harry Bentley 9/1
5 (10) 1 Glorious Journey 5 9-9 Charlie Appleby James Doyle 11/2
6 (6) ½ Pierre Lapin 3 9-0 Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni 16/1
7 (7) 1 Surf Dancer 3 9-0 William Haggas Silvestre De Sousa 5/1
8 (4) 14 Lincoln Bright 3 9-0 Jane Chapple-Hyam J F Egan 33/1
9 (5) 8 History Writer 5 9-6 David Menuisier Jamie Spencer 28/1
NR 10 (3) Threat 3 9-0 Richard Hannon NON RUNNER

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