Dream Of Dreams the one to 'fear' in Champions Sprint after Golden Horde setback

Confidence was only growing in the camp of Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes favourite Dream Of Dreams on Sunday after it was revealed main market rival Golden Horde had suffered a setback and would not be renewing rivalry with his Sprint Cup conqueror in Saturday's Group 1 at Ascot.

The duo had been first and second in the betting for the six-furlong contest and bookmakers now believe the race is for Dream Of Dreams to lose, with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained gelding a top-priced 2-1 with William Hill but a general 7-4 favourite having started Sunday at 5-2.

Owned by Saeed Suhail, Dream Of Dreams has been a model of consistency after returning from a gelding operation this year, starting his season with a narrow second in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over Saturday's course and distance, before a wide-margin success in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes teed him up for a maiden victory at the highest level in Haydock's Sprint Cup last month.

Golden Horde was back in third at Haydock but after trainer Clive Cox was forced on Sunday to rule him out of a rematch, connections of Dream Of Dreams gave a confident assessment of the prospect their runner has of doubling his Group 1 tally.

Golden Horde: ruled out of Qipco British Champions SprintCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Golden Horde was definitely a danger but he's out and hopefully we can end the season on a high note," said Suhail's racing manager Philip Robinson. "I think he's the one to beat, simple as that.

"If he turns up on the day as he has been for the rest of the year, I wouldn't fear anybody."

Robinson reported everything to have progressed smoothly since Haydock and has little doubt the gelding operation has had a significantly positive impact on the six-year-old, who is set to stay in training next season.

Champions Sprint Stakes card and betting

"He's come of age this year," he continued. "He's loving his racing and has confidence in himself. The course is no problem and I don't see why he shouldn't go there with a great chance.

"He's looking great in his work – he's relaxed and very similar to how he was before his last run."

Three-time Prix de la Foret heroine One Master and July Cup winner Oxted appear the biggest dangers to Dream Of Dreams and both also shortened in the betting as a result of Golden Horde's absence, but Robinson is confident conditions on Saturday will play to the strengths of Dream Of Dreams, who agonisingly has finished a head runner-up in the last two Diamond Jubilees, but well beaten in Saturday's race in 2019 and 2018.

He said: "We know he loves the track, having finished a close second there three times, and fingers crossed he goes there with a great chance. Hopefully it won't be absolutely bottomless, but soft ground is not a problem. It's not definite but I'd imagine if Oisin Murphy is available there'd be a very good chance he'll ride."

The ground at Ascot was described as soft on Sunday, with no plans at this stage to switch any races to the inner course, as was the case last year.

"We're expecting a little bit of rain tomorrow and Tuesday," said clerk of the course Chris Stickels. "Not vast quantities; six to eight millimetres at the most. The contingency for moving to the other course is only if the other track becomes unraceable, or likely to do so.

"At this stage, it's looking like it should be generally dry after Tuesday. That can't be guaranteed, but that's what the forecast currently indicates. I think soft ground is the most likely situation at this point."

Clive Cox: trainer of Golden HordeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Golden Horde had been as short as 9-2 for the Champions Sprint before Cox ruled him out.

"He's not going to be confirmed tomorrow for the race, I'm sorry to say," said the Lambourn trainer. "He was found to be sore after his work on Wednesday and we're just not happy with him.

"We'll monitor the situation, but we're not going to be able to sign off the season as intended at Ascot.

"He's been tremendously consistent and winning the Commonwealth Cup first time up this season was amazing."

Cox is unsure what the future held for the three-year-old, who would be an attractive proposition at stud.

"He'd have been one of the more fancied runners and was very much in tune - we wanted to go there, so it's a huge disappointment," he added.

"He's been a wonderful horse and we'll know a bit more [about the future] in a few days."

Read more if you were interested in this . . .

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