Warwick Farm mare Dreamworker is to be withdrawn from what her trainer thinks is a winnable midweek race to chase overdue stakes success at her home track at the weekend.
Dreamworker is an acceptor for the stayers’ race on the Australian Turf Club card at Newcastle on Wednesday but she will be saved for a richer target on Saturday.
The mare, in her first preparation under David Pfieffer, will take her place in the $100,000 Frank Underwood Cup (2200m) at Warwick Farm.
Besides an extra $65,000 in stakes, Saturday’s race carries black-type status, a highly sought-after commodity with breeders like her Dreamworker’s owner Mark Alati.
“If she goes to the midweek race she just about wins but the owner is keen to chase some sort of black type,” Pfieffer said.
“Chris Waller usually dominates these races but he’s only got one runner so it’s not as hard as what it might be which made the decision a bit easier.”
As the second foal of Wakeful Stakes winner and VRC Oaks placegetter Timbourina, Dreamworker already has a future at stud but a stakes win, even at a minor level, would immeasurably boost her broodmare standing.
Alati runs Marquee Stud in the upper Hunter Valley and Timbourina is one of his star boarders.
“Mark has got a small band of mares … decent mares,” Pfieffer said.
“It’s important to get stakes results for him. It’s a throw at the stumps on Saturday but it’s worth a go.”
Pfieffer said Dreamworker, beaten in a photo at Rosehill on Melbourne Cup day, would race in blinkers for the first time in his care.
“I had a bit to do with Timbourina when I worked for Tony Wildman and she wore blinkers for most of her life,” Pfieffer said.
Pfieffer has also decided to double his team for Brisbane on Saturday with the Alati-owned Triple Six to head north for the Recognition Stakes.
“I threw in a late nomination and the aim is the same as it is for Dreamworker, get some black type against her name.”
Triple Six will join stablemate Gai’s Choice at Eagle Farm and Peter Robl will ride both horses.
