A hugely impressive debut in the Listed Ascend Sales Valley Pearl (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night for the John McArdle Doubt I'm Dreaming who looks to have an exciting future but things have not always gone smoothly for the Not A Single Doubt colt.
Bred by John Muir's Milburn Creek Stud, Doubt I'm Dreaming was scheduled to go through the Inglis Premier Yearling sale but he broke his jaw. He was kept back for the Magic Millions National Yearling sale where he caught the eye of John McArdle.
It takes a good horse to win a stakes race first-up at this time of the year and Doubt I'm Dreaming won in the manner a future top-liner. (photos Grant Courtney)
Settled back midfield by Jamie Mott, Doubt I'm Dreaming circled the field before exploding around the home turn to put two and three-quarter lengths on the royally-bred Showtime (Snitzel) with Muraaqeb (Snitzel) back in third.
"I haven't ridden any Group 1 winners yet but I've had a lot to do with Group horses through track work and he's definitely the best horse I have ridden," Mott said.
"He put them away easy. I think he could get to the top level."
McArdle explained how he came to purchase the son of Not A Single Doubt.
"I bought him up at the Gold Coast in June. He was actually in the Melbourne Premier sale. Johnny Muir, Milburn Creek, a really good breeder bred him, and he (Doubt I'm Dreaming) broke his jaw so they had to withdraw him," McArdle said
"He probably would have cost me more at Melbourne Premier so I'm glad he ended up where he did."
Doubt I'm Dreaming was knocked down to Redgum Racing for $210,000.
He is the sixth foal and fifth winner out of the imported Spectrum mare Dreaming Of You (IRE) who is no stranger to expensive yearlings.
She had an Encosta De Lago filly make $575,000, a Danehill Dancer colt make $300,000 and a full brother Doubt I'm Dreaming who made $300,000.
A winner in Great Britain, Dreaming Of You (IRE) is a half-sister to stakes winner Nash Terrace and to the dam of Group I ATC Metropolitan Handicap winner Sir John Hawkwood and to the dam of
Dreaming Of You (IRE) has a yearling colt by Hinchinbrook and was covered by Rubick last spring.
Doubt I'm Dreaming becomes the 40th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud's hugely popular Not A Single Doubt who has a surprisingly light draft of three yearlings at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale.