Last Saturday, we experienced our biggest victory so far as a syndicate, as Dream Composer stormed to victory in the Aston Martin "Dash" Handicap at Epsom.
It's now been nearly four years to the day since I first saw Dream running in a Maiden at Saint Cloud. He showed distinct signs of life on that occasion against some quality opposition, so when we saw he had a sales entry a few months later, we were keen to try and get him. Thankfully, he failed to attract much attention in the ring, and we bought him for the princely sum of £14,000. I can't take any credit for what he's done since though as his success is a result of the hard work, commitment, care, patience, and determination shown by James Evans, and his fantastic team. He came to them as a maiden and has now won nine races and amassed over £200,000 in prize money. Obviously, it's not always been plain sailing (horse racing rarely is). We've had plenty of bumps in the road and some agonising defeats too. But there's no doubting that Dream has been an absolute superstar for us and I think the now well-publicised celebrations on Saturday were a testament to just how loved and adored he is by everyone involved with him.
The Race
Going into Saturday, we were quietly confident of a big performance from Dream. He'd been unlucky in his last three runs over five furlongs and the field as a whole held few secrets, as we'd competited against, and beaten most of them on various occasions. There was, however, the lingering question as to whether or not he'd handle the track but having seen him flying down the Goodwood hill to good effect, we were hopeful that he'd remain on an even keel throughout.
With our two closest market rivals fluffing the start and with Democracy Dilema setting a strong gallop, the scene was set for a climactic finish. However, this is a game of fine margins and split-second decisions, but thankfully Joe Leavy remained calm and composed, pulled the horse out into clean air and the rest is history. It was a wonderful ride. A true example of horse and jockey in perfect unison and Joe showing a level of maturity well beyond his years.
The Aftermaths
Saturday was a very emotional day for more than one reason:
Firstly, we sadly lost one of our most ardent supporters to cancer a couple of weeks ago. Trevor Allsopp was a wonderful man who loved his horses and loved his racing. He never complained, never wavered in his enthusiasm for PCRC and was adored by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him at the races. With that in mind, we were desperate to get his widow, Jan, to the races once again and thankfully Dream didn't disappoint. Seeing her leading him back into the winner's enclosure was a memory which will stay long in the mind and I don't think any of us could have written a better script.
Secondly, we started PCRC four years ago in memory of Peter Clarke. A father, grandfather, and husband who left his family way too soon. It was always his dream to own a racehorse, and now all of our horses run in his memory. I'm sure he would have been beside himself with excitement watching Dream win on Derby Day and as Sarah Anstiss (his daughter) said in her post-race interview, he was almost certainly looking down with a smile on his face.
Thirdly, it was our 30th winner as a syndicate. That's quite an achievement for any owner, let alone one with our budget and resources. We've now had winners at Ascot, Newmarket, Goodwood, Sandown, and Epsom. We will continue to strive for more winners, continue to spread our passion for horse racing but for the 50-60 shareholders in Dream Composer, I think it might be difficult to ever match the thrill of winning the Dash. I also want to thank Epsom Racecourse for making the day so enjoyable and memorable for all of our members. It was a huge day for the track, and their staff did a fantastic job.
Fourthly, it was a joyous occasion for the team behind the dream. James Evans and his staff have been invaluable to us over the last 3-4 years, and the only thing missing from our combined C.V. was that big Saturday win. Now we have it, and it was thoroughly deserved because they work so hard, day in, day out, and I'm sure that days like that are what motivates them to get out of bed every morning and put in the hours required to allow our horses to perform to the best of their abilities.
I also want to give a special mention to Lilly Moran, who has been an ever-present part of Dream's day-to-day life since he moved over from France. She adores him, cares for him like a mother would a child, and there’s no doubt in my mind that without her, he wouldn’t be the horse he is today. People like her are the lifeblood of this industry, the unsung heroes and we are all very fortunate to have her.
Finally, Graham and I have always viewed this sport as being a team game. In order to succeed, everyone needs to play their part, and everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction. While Joe Leavy rightly received all the praise and applause on Saturday, Dougie Costello helped lay the foundations for this success, and he was one of the first people to congratulate me after the win. He's been invaluable to PCRC, is a team player like no other and I'm incredibly grateful for the help, support, and insight that he's given to me over the last few years.
The Future
At this point in time, Dream owes us absolutely nothing. He currently has an entry in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and while we’ve never really had much luck over 6 furlongs in the big Heritage Handicaps, he’d be worthy of his place in the line up. I also think that the shareholders would love to go and have a crack at Listed company later in the season, but ultimately, we will see what James has planned for him and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, I'm sure it will be a journey filled with excitement and hopefully, a few more wins.
If you'd like to get involved with racehorse ownership, just click the link below and check out our store. We have options to fit all budgets, and if you need any help or assistance, either click the 'Chat' button or email me at info@peterclarkeracing.co.uk
All the best,
Jordan Evans - Syndicate Manager
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