Albany trainer Paul Hunter could not have been more impressed with his budding Danehill Express 3yo – Dream Lifter, following its spine tingling win in the Macau HCP 1400m at Belmont today.
The signs were there for all to see earlier this year when the gelding slaughtered home town rivals when on debut, before taking the trip to the big smoke to produce one of the most amazing victories seen at Ascot. Punters were left on all fours, trying to find their discarded tickets, after Dream Lifter delivered the near impossible. Missing the start terribly before being buried midfield with no momentum – all had seemed lost, and then “BANG” – as if shot from a cannon the gelding lifted itself through the pack and darted to the line for a half-length victory. Impressed beyond words, we all clamored for our Black Books and lay in wait for its next assignment.
A dead unlucky second in the Breeders Classic at Bunbury was to follow, before a short spell and an eye catching third over 1200m upon resuming. And then onto today – and boy were we in for a treat.
Punters were undecided leading into today’s event, after Dream Lifter ($3.70) drew barrier nine – with late money leaning towards multiple winner Hussy By Choice ($3.60 fav) and the young up and comer Silver Speck ($3.70) in the moments prior to the jump – but they needn’t have doubted the “Lifter”. Springing the gate, hoop Mitchell Pateman shot his mount forward to sit outside the favourite before powering away in the straight for a runaway 1 ¼ length salute.
Hussy By Choice stuck on for second, a quarter length ahead of the fast finishing Royal Inferno ($12.00).
Yet to miss a cheque and boasting three memorable wins from its five career starts, Hunter will now send Dream Lifter to the listed Belmont Guineas 1600m in a fortnight’s time.
Chris Blackwell