Cinderella’s Dream regains winning thread with G2 Dahlia Stakes demolition

Cinderella’s Dream put two narrow reversals behind her with a scintillating victory in the G2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Sunday, 4 May.

The Shamardal filly, whose six previous career wins included last season’s G1 Belmont Oaks, had finished a half-length second in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf before finding Choisya a head too strong in February’s G2 Balanchine.

Held up in a clear last of the five runners, Cinderella’s Dream took slightly closer order at the halfway point and travelled powerfully into the race three furlongs out.

Cinderella’s Dream cruised up between runners with two furlongs to race and led on the bridle approaching the final furlong.

Asked to win her race by William Buick soon after, the Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old streaked clear to defeat last season’s 1,000 Guineas scorer Elmalka by four and a half lengths.

Stablemate Beautiful Love stuck to her task under Ryan Moore to take third, a further three-quarters of a length in arrears.

Charlie Appleby said: “Cinderella’s Dream has sharpened up over the last two or three weeks and her homework has been great. We knew that she would come forward for the Meydan run, and we didn’t need to be too disappointed with that defeat as Choisya went on to win the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes.

“Will rode her with confidence – there’s a slight tailwind and those on the front end can sometimes get a slight advantage if you drop one in.

“The grand plan is to work backwards from the Breeders’ Cup again. We felt that we were slightly unlucky there last year, that’s the Breeders’ Cup and you just have to roll with it, and I’d love to go back to Del Mar. We will look at the Diana Stakes at Saratoga beforehand, but we will let the dust settle first.”

William Buick added: “Cinderella’s Dream was so relaxed in the run and I didn’t want to ask her too many questions too early, but she is very instant. All of a sudden, I ran out of horses to follow and she was right there.

“I thought it was a race with plenty of quality, so I’m really happy with what she achieved. She had a tough beat in Dubai, but the filly that beat her went on to win a G1. I think she has only finished out of the first three once in her life, so she is a very consistent filly.”