Sydney trainer John Thompson is happy to forget Dreamforce’s Epsom Handicap failure and believes the well-performed gelding can bounce back in the Group Two Crystal Mile at The Valley.
The seven-year-old was one of the market leaders in the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 but carrying top weight of 57kg from the outside barrier in the field of 19 proved too much.
After working to the front, Dreamforce led into the straight but was quickly overhauled by eventual winner Kolding and faded to finish 17th, beaten 10 lengths.
“It was just a race to put a line through,” Thompson said.
“He was poorly weighted there and the bad barrier was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“He had a shocking run and did too much work early.
“And when Nash (Rawiller) realised he couldn’t win he didn’t knock him around. He just let him cruise up the straight.”
Happy with Dreamforce since the race, Thompson has pressed on and the gelding will run in Melbourne for the third time on Saturday.
His most recent Melbourne start resulted in a win in the Group Three Chatham Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last spring and Thompson took Dreamforce to The Valley on Tuesday morning for a gallop ahead of his first start at the track.
He is the $4 favourite for the 2019 Crystal Mile.
“He’s a very honest horse,” Thompson said.
“He has come through the Epsom very well. He’s taken no ill-effects from it.
“He’s in good order and I think The Valley will suit the way he races.”
Along with wins in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) and Liverpool City Cup during 2019, Dreamforce has been placed in the George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Mile at Group One level in the autumn and last month’s George Main Stakes.
