The Clive Cox-trained My Dream Boat was a gutsy winner of the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and ran with credit in defeat during the season. That included a superb fifth placed finish in the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September and a fourth at Ascot in October in the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes.
Superbly handled by Cox last season for powerful owners Paul & Clare Rooney, who have a host of horses on the flat and over jumps, the five-year-old son of Lord Shanakill will make his reappearance this season in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown which takes place this month.
Cox’s charge won this Group Three race last year by a length and a quarter and was well on top at the finish in the contest under Adam Kirby.
He looks set for another busy campaign in top company but connections feel the Group Three event is a good starting point. Cox said:
I am really pleased with My Dream Boat. He is at exactly the same level he was this time last year. I am very happy with his well-being. He is in good order and is still on target to make his return in the Gordon Richards Stakes, all being well That is plan A.
