21st Stakes-Winner for Dream Ahead

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday December 26
Aquis shuttler Dream Ahead (USA) sired his 21st stakes-winner on Boxing Day when progressive sprinter Sensei scored a tenacious win in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) in New Zealand bringing a terrific pedigree update for his yearling half-brother headed to the 2019 Magic Millions.

Sensei - Wild Range PhotographyThe magic hands of evergreen horseman Chris Johnson paved the way for the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Sensei to take out the feature event at Wingatui.

Despite being wide and over-racing during the early stages of the contest, Johnson never panicked as he guided the four-year-old into the race approaching the home turn.

Entitled to wave the white flag after such a tough run, Sensei never flinched as he downed local mare The Precious One and Group I 1 Telegraph Handicap winner Signify in a blanket finish to the event.

The victory was just reward for the Dream Ahead entire who had finished runner-up in the Group III Stewards Stakes Handicap (1200m) at Riccarton at his last start.

"That was some performance today," Michael Pitman said.

"He was four and five wide at one stage, so to be able to finish off like he did tells you he has a big ticker this horse.

"He had a wide draw and Chris got stuck out there, but the horse never chucked it away and was very brave at the finish."

Pitman admitted he had been confident of victory after his charge had been the victim of some lousy racing luck at his last start.

"He got skittled after 100m last time so to finish up where he did was a massive effort," he said.

"On that performance he was always going to be hard to beat today, so we went into the race with plenty of confidence."

Pitman will now set his sights on the Group I JR&N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 19 for Sensei.

A $60,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Emirates Park draft, Sensei has won five races and placed seven times from 16 starts and is a half-brother to Group II winner and sire Rothesay from good producer Schiaparelli.

A blue-blooded daughter of Woodman (USA), Schiaparelli is from multiple Group I winner Canny Lass from the family of Golden Slipper winners Canny Lad and Sepoy.

Aquis will offer the current yearling from Schiaparelli (a colt by Artie Schiller (USA) on behalf of Emirates Park at the 2019 Magic Millions as Lot 100 and is pictured below.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Marble Nine Brings Up Second SW For Aquis Sire Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz Wins A.R. Creswick Stakes
While many felt the winner of Saturday’s Listed $175,000 VRC A.R. Creswick Stakes (1200m) had raced two weeks prior in the Shop Flemington Handicap (1100m) – and they would’ve been correct – but it was not the result many punters felt it would be!
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Dream Ahead's Renewal Opens Stakes Account
Honest, Dream Ahead (USA) gelding Renewal defied the pattern of the day when he came from the tail of the field to earn a maiden stakes win in Sunday’s Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Kiwi Sprinter to Target Oakleigh Plate
Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman has never been afraid to travel his horses in search of lucrative prizemoney and the right conditions.
French Group Three Winner for Dream Ahead
Aquis shuttler Dream Ahead (USA) is the sire of progressive four year-old Tornibush, who claimed his biggest win when taking out the he Group III Prix dup Pin at Longchamp on Sunday.
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Shumookh Opens Her Stakes Account in a Thriller
After chasing home the likes of D'argento, Alizee, Unforgotten and Shoals home in the autumn, Emirate Park’s royally-bred Dream Ahead (USA) filly Shumookh fought like a tiger to edge Champagne Cuddles in Saturday’s $400,000 Group II Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
More Stakes Success for Dream Ahead Sprinter
A last start third in the Group I Ascot British Champions Sprint Stakes, classy Dream Ahead sprinter Donjuan Triumphant gained some consolation when taking out the Listed Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.
Invincible 3YO Wins G3 Winx Guineas
The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday featured a big field of 16 up and comers and following the late scratching of favourite Mister Bianco, Angela Jones took luck out of the equation on I Am Invincible gelding The Three Hundred.