Dream Catcher’s staying power good for 1,000 Guineas

DREAM CATCHER’s seven-length win in the Portmore emphasised her staying pedigree, pulling clear of stablemate TAYLOR MADE, who rallied to deny LEXI LOU the runner-up spot at seven and a half furlongs.

Running like a true stayer, DREAM CATCHER didn’t need more than one crack of the whip from Tevin Foster to make her move, leaping at the leaders, fourth off the turn, but travelling much the best, which makes her the horse to beat again in Saturday’s 1000 Guineas at a mile.

Switched four-wide by Foster, avoiding the possibility of a traffic pile-up along the rail, DREAM CATCHER responded by quickening sharply with a second strike of the whip, overhauling TAYLOR MADE, who was fighting off PIPPA a furlong out.

Jason DaCosta is taking no chances in the 1000 Guineas, tactically training DREAM CATCHER to be much earlier as opposed to being eight lengths off the lead turning for home in the Portmore.

Pairing DREAM CATCHER with stablemate BIGGER BOSS at exercise in the mornings, DaCosta has had the filly galloping alongside a pacey colt for a race against the fairer sex.

BIGGER BOSS, though unplaced in the Kingston, won by STARDOM, pressed the pace and was fourth up to three furlongs out before being relegated by the winner making his move at the leaders.

On both occasions that she galloped with BIGGER BOSS, DREAM CATCHER got the better of the colt, 1:14.0 for six furlongs last Saturday and 1:07.3 for five and a half the previous week, clocking the fastest times recorded by any horse at the trip either morning.

With stablemate TAYLOR MADE still around to give all and sundry hell on the lead, the only way she knows how to run, Foster has a ringside seat to a speed duel, which will fall into his lap as much as the Portmore did.

Until the longer races come around, DREAM CATCHER is the queen of the pack. It will take a smart filly to deny her in the 1000 Guineas. However, the railbirds have had their eyes on two-time Horse of the Year Saint Cecelia’s daughter, FOLLOWING WAVE, sired by Bern Identity, who makes her debut in Saturday’s Marlene My Love.

Sparingly trained by Spencer Chung, FOLLOWING WAVE clocked 1:00.4 from the gate last Monday morning and should get off the mark against fellow maidens at five and a half furlongs, carrying the hopes of the late Saint Cecelia, who, despite winning 14 consecutive grade-one races, is yet to replicate that form in the breeding shed.