Horses to watch in 2009: Heart Of Dreams
January 1st 2009 08:26
In my articles on horses to watch in 2009 I have previously identified Whobegotyou and All Silent, two horses who have already achieved much in their racing careers. Winning Group One races draws both spotlight and acclaim.
(photo: Vince Caligiuri)
The third horse who I believe will blossom in year 2009 is yet to win a race any better than at Listed grade - and has only had four race starts. This horse is the three year old Show A Heart gelding Heart Of Dreams.
I distinctly remember his debut when trainer Mick Price would present Heart Of Dreams in a tough metropolitan handicap after demolishing a field in a barrier trial. His first start was in the Quest Moonee Valley Handicap over 1200m on 21st of June.
Heart Of Dreams was slowly away and settled last in the field of eleven. He would improve stylishly, though erratically, and flash home late to finish a three length third. The horse who won that day was equally as impressive - but we have mentioned Whobegotyou before - so no need to elaborate any further on him. Heart Of Dreams started a very well supported second favourite at 4/1 behind the 3/1 favourite Whobegotyou. Considering that it was Winter racing It turned out to be an exceptionally tough race for a debut appearance.
Trainer Mick Price would then give Heart Of Dreams a brief spell and return for the Spring racing. This time however he at first took a conservative path and sent Heart Of Dreams to provincial Kilmore for an easy ‘kill’ in a 1207m Maiden on the 16th of September.
18 days later Heart Of Dreams - ridden by premier jockey Damien Oliver - would be defeated in the Listed Beyond Sportswear Stakes over 1410m at Flemington by talented free striding Testa Rossa colt Tindal. It was a travesty to see Heart Of Dreams beaten on that day. The stewards would report that he struck interference at the start & was disappointed for a run - but in fact he was only able to get clear galloping room in the final 75 metres - and he finished with an amazing sprint to get as close as he eventually did. I knew he was a special horse on that day. The speedfigures were excellent and he could have run even faster. Damien Oliver does at times ride ‘pretty’ and seek shortcuts when none are needed. This was one of those occasions.
Heart Of Dreams in 2008 was a lightly framed immature and inexperienced horse. He came to the end of his Spring campaign two weeks later in the Listed Winning Edge Presentation Cup over 1400m at Caulfield. This time Oliver would secure clear running soon enough for him to pick up and easily defeat a field of quality 3 year olds. Well behind him in 6th place was Tindal, who so luckily defeated him at their previous meeting. In second placing was the impressive Drumbeats who next start himself would win a Listed race at Flemington. In third position was (Peter Snowden trained) stablemate of Drumbeats, Caymans, who would effortlessly win the Group Two Sandown Guineas over 1600m at his next start. In 4th position was Whobegotyou’s stablemate Dr Doute’s, who would at his next start win the Carbine Club Stakes over 1600m at Flemington.
Heart Of Dreams is a brother to another Mick Price trained horse in Rightfully Yours. This promising older brother was so impressive that he went from winning a minor handicap win at Flemington over the carnival to start favourite at Group One in the Railway Stakes at Ascot in Perth. He would run unplaced - and the expectation for success was unrealistic - as his speedfigures at the time would testify.
All of the feature races forgone in 2008 by the connections of Heart Of Dreams are likely to pay off in the long term. In 2008 they had a highly promising, but still immature racehorse. Not pushing forward too early I believe will prove a very wise decision. Heart Of Dreams is definitely a horse to watch in 2009.
Heart Of Dreams and Damien Oliver
(photo: Vince Caligiuri)
The third horse who I believe will blossom in year 2009 is yet to win a race any better than at Listed grade - and has only had four race starts. This horse is the three year old Show A Heart gelding Heart Of Dreams.
I distinctly remember his debut when trainer Mick Price would present Heart Of Dreams in a tough metropolitan handicap after demolishing a field in a barrier trial. His first start was in the Quest Moonee Valley Handicap over 1200m on 21st of June.
Heart Of Dreams was slowly away and settled last in the field of eleven. He would improve stylishly, though erratically, and flash home late to finish a three length third. The horse who won that day was equally as impressive - but we have mentioned Whobegotyou before - so no need to elaborate any further on him. Heart Of Dreams started a very well supported second favourite at 4/1 behind the 3/1 favourite Whobegotyou. Considering that it was Winter racing It turned out to be an exceptionally tough race for a debut appearance.
Trainer Mick Price would then give Heart Of Dreams a brief spell and return for the Spring racing. This time however he at first took a conservative path and sent Heart Of Dreams to provincial Kilmore for an easy ‘kill’ in a 1207m Maiden on the 16th of September.
18 days later Heart Of Dreams - ridden by premier jockey Damien Oliver - would be defeated in the Listed Beyond Sportswear Stakes over 1410m at Flemington by talented free striding Testa Rossa colt Tindal. It was a travesty to see Heart Of Dreams beaten on that day. The stewards would report that he struck interference at the start & was disappointed for a run - but in fact he was only able to get clear galloping room in the final 75 metres - and he finished with an amazing sprint to get as close as he eventually did. I knew he was a special horse on that day. The speedfigures were excellent and he could have run even faster. Damien Oliver does at times ride ‘pretty’ and seek shortcuts when none are needed. This was one of those occasions.
Heart Of Dreams in 2008 was a lightly framed immature and inexperienced horse. He came to the end of his Spring campaign two weeks later in the Listed Winning Edge Presentation Cup over 1400m at Caulfield. This time Oliver would secure clear running soon enough for him to pick up and easily defeat a field of quality 3 year olds. Well behind him in 6th place was Tindal, who so luckily defeated him at their previous meeting. In second placing was the impressive Drumbeats who next start himself would win a Listed race at Flemington. In third position was (Peter Snowden trained) stablemate of Drumbeats, Caymans, who would effortlessly win the Group Two Sandown Guineas over 1600m at his next start. In 4th position was Whobegotyou’s stablemate Dr Doute’s, who would at his next start win the Carbine Club Stakes over 1600m at Flemington.
Heart Of Dreams is a brother to another Mick Price trained horse in Rightfully Yours. This promising older brother was so impressive that he went from winning a minor handicap win at Flemington over the carnival to start favourite at Group One in the Railway Stakes at Ascot in Perth. He would run unplaced - and the expectation for success was unrealistic - as his speedfigures at the time would testify.
All of the feature races forgone in 2008 by the connections of Heart Of Dreams are likely to pay off in the long term. In 2008 they had a highly promising, but still immature racehorse. Not pushing forward too early I believe will prove a very wise decision. Heart Of Dreams is definitely a horse to watch in 2009.
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