I Dream Again gets company to tackle speedy Danka

Having watched I DREAM AGAIN come under pressure on the lead in his last two races, champion trainer Jason DaCosta has called up stablemates FORMALIST and STARRAURA to keep speedy DANKA honest in Sunday’s five-furlong sprint for non-winners of an overnight allowance.

Last year’s Jamaica Derby and St Leger winner, I DREAM AGAIN’s only victory this year came against non-winners of four races in a seven-furlong event in which he dominated from start to finish.

However, since graduating to middle-school company, I DREAM AGAIN has failed to pass an overnight-allowance test in six attempts, having been outsped three times over five furlongs straight and twice collared after attempting to steal races on the lead around the turn.

Last time out, I DREAM AGAIN tried to dictate the pace over a mile but was forced to engage BOB THE BUILDER, slipping past his rival four and a half furlongs from home before straightening with a two-length advantage over COOKIE DAY N NIGHT. He was reeled in a furlong and a half out before both were cut down by upset winner WHIZZ KIDD.

In his previous outing, I DREAM AGAIN was never afforded a breather, coming under attack from American COMMANDER Z at the half-mile marker and chasing that rival in vain for the remainder of the five-and-a-half-furlong sprint.

Tired of watching his Derby hero appear ordinary, DaCosta has summoned FORMALIST and STARRAURA to tag-team troublesome DANKA, who finished well beaten in her last two starts but may very well have been playing possum after winning under a hand ride over five furlongs straight on July 25.

FORMALIST was among DANKA’s victims, having been outsped by the chestnut filly, who franked the form of that contest when caught by American ROCKET FIRE SEB over seven furlongs.

Despite outsprinting FORMALIST over five furlongs straight, DANKA’s inconsistency, particularly around the turn, suggests that she could be in for a tougher assignment in a rematch with DaCosta’s speedster, who could take her off the bridle much sooner than Tajay Suckoo would desire.

I DREAM AGAIN should not be far off the pace, with stablemate STARRAURA for company as insurance while he is wound up to make his challenge.