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| Staff Writer |
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Live In The Dream is set to travel to America in order to acclimatize before his Breeders' Cup challenge. He will prepare for the event by participating in the US$350,000 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland.
At York, a 4YO who could fly lived up to his name by winning the Nunthorpe and securing a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. This was a dream come true for the excited connections who were experiencing big-race success for the first time.
Nevertheless, trainer Adam West has decided to let his thriving speedster, Live In The Dream, experience some early Stateside action before the main event in California on November 4. On October 7, Live In The Dream will compete in a race that has been won by Wesley Ward's Golden Pal for the past two years in Kentucky.
West said, “We can’t rely on getting any good ground in the Abbaye and we think the experience out in America – the bell, the stalls they have, the pace they set, a turning track – will hold him in better stead for the Breeders’ Cup.
“The race itself is five and a half furlongs so we’re not expecting to do serious damage there, but the experience for him in that racing style will be invaluable. If we’re leading them at the half-furlong marker then we’ll know we have a really good chance in the big race.”
West reports that the Prince Of Lir gelding is in excellent form after his impressive performances on the Knavesmire. With anticipation growing for the upcoming cross-Atlantic raids, West hopes that a race at Keeneland will help maintain control of his charge as they prepare for their main target four weeks later.
“He’s been thriving ever since the Nunthorpe, he’s been really, really well,” added West.
“I’ve just been trying to switch him off a little bit actually so that the next race can bring him on. It’s very hard to keep something at its maximum for as long as the two races (Nunthorpe and Breeders’ Cup) are separated, so hopefully this will do the trick.
“It’s very exciting and we can’t wait.”