California Dreamer

Trained by Robson De Aguiar out of a yard in Mullingar, Westmeath — a set-up that has sent out 16 winners this season — California Dreamer has been ridden in 13 of her 19 races by David Egan, a partnership that has yet to produce a win together. That is a curious stat, given that she clearly does know how to win. Her best results have come over a mile to a mile and two furlongs, where she has won 2 of her 7 races at those distances, and she clearly prefers normal ground — both wins have come on standard conditions, giving her a remarkable 2 from 3 record in those circumstances.

Her most recent victory came at Dundalk back in March, and her recent form has been mixed — a win sandwiched between some disappointing efforts, and a finish as far back as ninth and eleventh in two of her last six races. But she raced just yesterday, which tells you she is fit and active, and the bigger picture is more interesting than a few off days. The trainer has spoken about dropping her in class and distance after a bold effort at the top level, suggesting the yard knows exactly what she is and is not yet ready for. When she finished second in a top-tier race at the Curragh, her trainer called it a fabulous run and noted she handled the mile trip better than expected. That kind of honest assessment — backing her up in the right spot rather than chasing prestige — is often what turns a promising horse into a consistent one. At Dundalk, on a normal surface, over a mile or a bit further, California Dreamer is a different animal altogether.