Written by Paul Vettise
The John Thompson-trained Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) earned another medal for bravery following a typically gallant display to successfully defend his G2 Tramway S. title at Randwick.
Dreamforce had been out of the picture when he resumed in the G1 Winx S., but it was a forgive and forget performance from the 8-year-old who, for once, found a wide gate and a torrid run beyond even his fighting qualities.
On Saturday, he sat outside the leader Greysful Glamour (Stratum) at a more sedate pace and when the tempo increased from the 450 metre mark he was revelling in his work for rider Nash Rawiller.
“You just had to put a line through his first-up run and he came through it well and the race today suited a lot better at set weights and penalties,” Thompson said.
“I was a bit worried a bit early on after he went a bit keenly at his last start, but he obviously stripped a lot fitter today and being on top of the ground helps.”
Thompson said the association Rawiller has with Dreamforce, highlighted by their defeat of The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) in last season’s G1 George Ryder S., was a key factor in the success.
“Nash rides him in a lot of work and knows him so well. You don’t have to give him a lot of instructions, he works it out for himself.”
“Nash rides him in a lot of work and knows him so well. You don’t have to give him a lot of instructions, he works it out for himself.” – John Thompson
Rawiller let Dreamforce have his head at the top of the straight and he responded by forging clear with 200 metres to run on the way to the 13th win of his career.
“This horse means so much to me and he hasn’t let me down in the last 13 months or so,” Rawiller said. “He’s been a real stalwart of the stable and he’s just a war horse, he doesn’t give up.”
Rawiller said he wasn’t concerned when Greysful Glamour and rider Rachel King were determined to hold the front.
“It wasn’t really the plan to lead and I was happy to sit outside. I just let him use his cruising speed and when he gets into a rhythm it doesn’t matter if he goes that little bit harder.
“He gets them off the bridle and he gives you twice as much at the end of the race. You get a lot of confidence riding for John, he gets them fit.
“The horse just gives his best, that’s him and it's what he does and that’s good enough.”
Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) also gave a vastly-improved second-up performance by finding the line willingly for second with Reloaded (Snitzel) arriving for third ahead of Greysful Glamour.
