Spectacular Debut for Choisir Colt

23rd August 2008

Few horses make their debut in a Group Three event as a three year-old and even fewer go on to win, but that was the case with the Gai Waterhouse trained colt Dreamscape (3c Choisir x Faith in Dreams, by Ferdinand) who scored a spine-tingling victory in the Group Three AJC Up and Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Unbeaten in two recent barrier trials, Dreamscape (pictured in the red and black on the inside) was very much thrown in the deep end for this assignment against far more seasoned peers, but emerged with flying colours as he surged for jockey Peter Robl over the last furlong to claim a nose win over talented gelding Aichi.

“That was a top class effort and Peter (Robl) was very patient,” said Gai Waterhouse.

“We knew we had a superior colt, so why not start him off in a stakes race.”

A homebred for Gooree Stud, Dreamscape is by champion sprinter Choisir, who conquered Royal Ascot in 2003 before retiring to Coolmore Stud.

Dreamscape is the fourth winner and first stakes-winner for the Ferdinand mare Faith in Dreams, whose pedigree is one of the best in the world as she claims legendary producer Thong as her grand-dam.

A remarkable mare, Thong is the dam of Group One winners Thatch and King Pellinore, her many superior descendants including champions sires Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev.

Despite her impressive credentials, Faith in Dreams proved a largely disappointing producer for Gooree until now and was on-sold at the 2006 Inglis Broodmare Sale where she made $7,000 and was exported to the Philippines.

Dreamscape is the eighth stakes-winner worldwide for Choisir, who was the leading second season sire in Australia last season by individual winners.

A son of outstanding sire Danehill Dancer, Choisir stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $33,000.