Third in last year’s Group I ATC George Ryder Stakes (1500m) behind champion mare Winx, Fastnet Rock gelding Dreamforce returned to Rosehill on Saturday to lead all the way and win the prestigious feature by a short neck.
Ridden a perfect race by Nash Rawiller from an inside gate, Dreamforce kicked hard off the bend and kept up a good gallop to the line to beat Kiwi challengers The Bostonian and Te Akau Shark.
“He’s so honest, he’s the most honest horse I’ve ever had,” said his delighted trainer John Thompson.
“Nash knows this horse so well and he had him in a nice rhythm. When he moved out into the better ground in the straight I thought he must be confident!”
Foaled and raised at Kitchwin Hills, Dreamforce was retained to race by his breeders after passing in at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and has put together an impressive record with 12 wins and 11 placings from 32 starts with prizemoney in excess of $2.1million.
Dreamforce is the best of five winners for Eskimo Queen, an outstanding racemare who won both the Group I Queensland Oaks and STC Coolmore Classic.
Eskimo Queen was sold last year at the Inglis Chariman’s Sale fetching $400,000 to the bid of Boutique Bloodstock / Paul Willetts.
She produced a filly by Snitzel last spring and is no in foal to Trapeze Artist.
Dreamforce is the 39th Group I winner for champion sire Fastnet Rock, who has 25 entries for Inglis Easter.