Thoroughbred Sprinter Aims for Nunthorpe Repeat at York
The talented chestnut gelding, Live In The Dream, is gearing up for another shot at the prestigious Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse this season. The sprinter made impressive strides through the sprint ranks last year, placing in the Palace House Stakes and the Temple Stakes before securing a dominant victory in the Group 1 Nunthorpe.
Trainer Tim West is optimistic about his charge’s prospects, despite a couple of setbacks earlier in the campaign. “We weren’t in a position to dominate with the headwind, the ground and the draw” at Sandown, where Live In The Dream finished fourth last time out. However, West believes the experience will prove valuable as they target a return to the Knavesmire in August.
“Since the Breeders’ Cup, we’ve been a little bit conservative,” the trainer explained. “He did a little bit too much going into the bend, so we’ve been testing whether his maturity would allow him to run his races differently. But to be at his best, he does need to be ridden aggressively with conditions right.”
Jockey Sean Kirrane was instrumental in Live In The Dream’s Nunthorpe triumph last year, and connections are hopeful that a return to those positive tactics will pay dividends. The gelding is also entered for the King George Stakes at Goodwood, as well as the Prix du Cercle in Deauville, but the Nunthorpe remains the primary objective, potentially paving the way for another tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
“The Nunthorpe is our big goal this year to try and get out to the Breeders’ Cup,” West confirmed. Fans of the sport will be eagerly anticipating the chestnut’s quest to defend his crown on the Knavesmire in August.
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