Dream Alliance, the inspiration for Hollywood film Dream Horse, has died aged twenty-two.
Dream Alliance, the inspiration for Hollywood film Dream Horse, has died aged twenty-two.
The 2009 Welsh Grand National winner was owned by a syndicate of 23 members from a Welsh town headed by breeder Jan Vokes, who kept the horse on a disused allotment prior to his entry into training with Philip Hobbs.
The syndicate members paid £10 a week and enjoyed success with Dream Alliance until the horse severed a tendon in his leg at Aintree in 2008. Despite a cost of around £20,000, the syndicate paid for pioneering stem cell treatment to bring the gelding back to health and he returned to the track over a year and a half later, defying odds of 20/1 to win the Welsh Grand National in December 2009.
The fairytale story was made into a documentary in 2015 before capturing the attention of director Euros Lyn, who came from a similar Welsh community and was drawn to the narrative. The subsequent 2020 film, starring Damien Lewis and Toni Collette, made approximately $6.6 million at the US box office.
"He was a one in a million," said breeder Jan Vokes.
"It's hard to look back and believe it really happened, things like that just don't happen to the likes of us. To have done it and after stem cell surgery – it really is something that films are made of. You've got to remember the good times we've had with him.
"He was second to Denman, he won at Perth and we had just tremendous fun with him. He had a fabulous home after racing and was well looked after. I've had loads of messages, people telling me he's gone but not forgotten. His legend will live on."
Upon retirement, Dream Alliance was gifted by the syndicate to former groom Claire Sandercock who had looked after him during his training career at the Philip Hobbs yard.
