Hungerford Stakes Preview: Hit the right note with Dream of Dreams

For one reason or another, Saturday’s Hungerford Stakes at Newbury is not a race that Aidan O’Brien has targeted over the years. He has never saddled a runner in the seven-furlong Group 2 – instead favouring the very valuable Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh and Park Stakes at Doncaster - and though he has three engaged at the five-day stage for this year’s renewal, it’s far from certain that any of Gustav Klimt, Fleet Review or St Patrick’s Day (brother to US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah) will turn up on Saturday.

The pick of those is ante-post market leader Gustav Klimt. A small, well-made colt, Gustav Klimt hasn’t added to his Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial win in five outings since being stepped up to a mile, but his half-length second to Without Parole in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot is excellent form. He was a creditable two lengths fourth to Lightning Spear in the Sussex Stakes last time, but while all three of his wins have come over this trip, he shaped at Goodwood as if worth a try at a mile and a quarter (has an International Stakes entry at York next week).

Weight-adjusted ratings are topped by Librisa Breeze, who turned in much his best effort of the season when a keeping-on four and a quarter lengths fourth of 20 to Polydream in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time, unsuited by the way the race developed.

Freddy Head's Polydream catches the George Scott-trained James Garfield right on the line in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville

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He's likely to build on that effort on his next start, which could be here given he was second last year after running at Goodwood, though his general scheduling over the years would suggest that the Sprint Cup at Haydock and the British Champions Sprint at Ascot – which he won last year - might be more likely ports of call than this assignment which comes less than a fortnight after a trip to France. D’bai, who was having his second start in five days when sixth in the Maurice de Gheest, is a bit short of the standard required at that level, but would be far from out of place if turned out quickly once more here.

Goodwood form could prove crucial, with half of the 18 entries going into Saturday’s race on the back of a run at the course’s festival, to varying degrees of success.

Sir Dancealot won the aforementioned Lennox Stakes by a short head from Suedois, finding plenty to lead on the line having been short of room a furlong out.

Sir Dancealot gets up to snatch the Qatar Lennox Stakes by a photo finish at @Goodwood_Races

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That was the biggest win of his career so far and when crediting him with the extra he was value for (would've been an unlucky loser had he not got out in time) it was his best performance yet back at this trip, now successful on his last three starts over seven furlongs. He was only fifth in this race last year but is a much-improved model now and commands plenty of respect.

Breton Rock (third), D’bai (fifth), and Emmaus (10^th) also ran in the Lennox. Breton Rock was aiming to follow up last year's win in the race and looked like clinging on for much of the final furlong. He might not be quite so robust or consistent as he was, now eight after all, but he showed there that he retains all of his ability and has claims of improving on last season’s fourth in this race, especially if there is any rain. Emmaus could only plug on from the back without threatening in the Lennox and has clearly not been easy to train – that was just his third run since last October.

Pretty Baby is out of an unraced half-sister to winner up to 11f (stayed 15.5f) Prairie Star and 1½m winner Pacific Rim (both smart), so it’s no surprise that she appreciated the step up to this trip when landing the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood. She didn’t need to improve to win, but perhaps deserves credit for overcoming a saddle that had started to slip before halfway (and went completely after the line). She's still unexposed and has an impressive strike rate, so remains of obvious interest.

One Master (fourth) and Dan’s Dream (11^th) have work to do to turn the tables on Pretty Baby, but the former is respected, having come from further back (and wider) than the trio that beat her that day.

Away from Goodwood, the first and third from the Hackwood Stakes, Yafta and Dream of Dreams, are entered. Three-year-old handicap graduate Yafta improved to make his second try at pattern level a winning one there and while it'll take more improvement to win in a higher grade, he's proving very likeable and the way his form is going suggests this might not be his limit.

Yafta wins the bet365 Hackwood Stakes at @NewburyRacing

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— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 21, 2018

Similar comments apply to the year-older Dream of Dreams, who didn’t get as clear a passage as his rival last time and who shapes as if the step back up in trip (proven winner over seven furlongs) will be in his favour.

Of the rest, International Stakes (handicap) second Arbalet is respected, for all he has a bit to find on ratings. He had the perfect position, in the second wave in the favoured group, but to focus on his advantages relative to many is to underestimate what a big effort it was by a three-year-old, touching Group 3 standard. He has had his problems with the stalls before, though. Bunbury Cup fourth Cardsharp couldn’t match that effort when well down the field in the International, and it could be that his busy schedule is catching up with him.

Conclusion

With doubts about some of those at the head of the betting, it looks worth taking a chance on one at a bigger price. General 12/1 chance Dream of Dreams has a head and a neck to find with Yafta on their Hackwood run, but Sir Michael Stoute’s charge has improved with every start since his reappearance at Newmarket in April and is fancied to improve further now stepped back up to seven furlongs. He can provide Saeed Suhail, owner of King George winner Poet's Word, with another high profile winner.

Recommended bet:

Back Dream of Dreams to win Saturday's Hungerford Stakes at Newbury at 12/1