Nunthorpe winner Live In The Dream made a solid start to his Breeders’ Cup campaign with a fourth in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday night.
The Adam West-trained gelding broke through at the top level in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, giving both jockey Sean Kirrane and the trainer a notable first Group 1 victory.
Sean Kirrane retained his partnership with the four-year-old in the five-and-a-half furlong Woodford Stakes, breaking well out of the gates before pulling two lengths clear with a furlong to run. He faded in the closing stages and finished three-and-a-quarter lengths in fourth behind Arzak.
"We were a small bit frustrated the 80-1 shot [Foxtrotanna] hassled us as I think we could have improved a position or two if that hadn't happened, but overall we were delighted with what we saw," said West.
"He went above and beyond the early sectionals that are needed to put it up to the best of the Americans. Going into the race I was disappointed Caravel [last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner] wasn't there, but the numbers don't lie and I think he's going to be pretty dangerous on a sharper track."
"I'm so pleased we decided to come to Keeneland. I don't know what we would have learned in the Abbaye. We could have put a bit more into the purse, I suppose, but I think coming here has taught us so much more.
"I was quite stressed yesterday, just not knowing whether we were going to be able ride aggressively. In England you get easy leads with a horse with his speed as no one wants to come at you that early, whereas here they were attacking him and he still had enough gate [speed] to go two lengths clear of reasonable horses.
Live In The Dream will be dropping back half-a-furlong for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (distance?) at Santa Anita on 4 November, which should suit.
"I think I can go to Santa Anita now a little bit more relaxed and just enjoy it because he's ticked the boxes that he has and is able to hold his head up high when he contends that race," West added.
"He'll stay at Keeneland in the quarantine barn until October 25 and then fly down with the other horses that will be going from East to West Coast.
"He'll have a shorter journey [than the other European horses]. If we'd come straight from the UK to the Breeders' Cup he'd have a long flight, then five days [in quarantine] and then straight onto the track, whereas now he has a shorter flight and an extra day, so I'm really pleased with how it's played out.
"Without being pig-headed about it, I think they're almost coming into our ballpark and our playpen at Santa Anita. If the Breeders' Cup was at Keeneland it might be a different story, but the attributes of the track at Santa Anita are going to suit him better.
"With a half decent draw and nothing going seriously one way or the other way with the ground, I think he's got it all."
