No irons no problem for Cinderella’s Dream in Jumeirah 1,000 Guineas

Cinderella’s Dream stretched her unbeaten record to four in remarkable circumstances as she overcame a slipped saddle in the Listed Jumeirah 1,000 Guineas sponsored by Emirates SkyCargo at Meydan on Saturday, 2 March.

An easy winner of the Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic on her seasonal return, Cinderella’s Dream raced freely behind the leaders in fourth as Nadelia set sedate early fractions in the mile turf contest.

William Buick was forced to kick his feet out of the stirrups when his saddle slipped forwards, leaving him with little control over Cinderella’s Dream from the halfway point. The daughter of Shamardal made rapid headway around the field turning in, hitting the front over three furlongs from home.

Lightning Paradise attempted to challenge for the lead passing the two-furlong pole but Cinderella’s Dream soon asserted before streaking clear inside the final furlong, hitting the line five and a half lengths clear of Geologist.

Charlie Appleby said: “Cinderella’s Dream showed her talent and William showed his. The saddle pitched up her neck, so William felt that he had to take his feet out the irons and do it cowboy style.

“She is a talented filly, who is four from four now. We have not got any immediate plans, but Mawj won this race last year and went on to win an English Guineas. I am not saying she is good enough to win an English Guineas, but she is earning her stripes to participate in one and be competitive.

“Dance Sequence would be our main Guineas filly – she won the Oh So Sharp Stakes – and then we had Devoted Queen break her maiden quite impressively in the autumn. They would be naturally in front of Cinderella’s Dream, but this filly is doing very little wrong and deserves to take her chance.

“Now that she has had two runs out here, you would probably look at going straight into the Guineas. We will leave her out here and then she will travel back with the rest of the team.”

William Buick added: “Cinderella’s Dream took a hold early and, because she is only slight, when I took a pull, my saddle went up in front of me. Then when the pace slackened coming into the turn, I steadied her off heels and the saddle went again. I was getting a bit unbalanced, so the safest thing to do was kick my feet out the irons.

“The filly was very professional. It was a bit of a rodeo show, but she got the job done. She is really progressing and won there as she liked with no help at all. I think she has done well and, with each start, she does things better.”