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​When two-year-old Jackpot did not quite cut the mustard at his latest runs, trainer Brian Dean could still have counted on second-choice Tomorrows Dreams as a potential Magic Millions Juvenile Championship prospect.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
After all, Tomorrows Dreams had improved by leaps and bounds from his debut fifth (and last) in one of the Legs of the seven-race Singapore Golden Horseshoe series for two-year-olds which saw Dean's better-fancied juvenile Jackpot run second to Master King last March.
Spelled after that debut race, the son of Snippetson turned in a blinder upon resuming in an Initiation race over 1000m on June 29 to run an eye-catching third to Abastor, suddenly raising his stocks over Jackpot, who had run fourth and then eighth in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe on May 18.
If Dean was still keen to fill a gap in his juvenile resume, racing Tomorrows Dreams in this Sunday's $200,000 Group 3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m) would not have been too much of a pipedream.
But the Australian handler finally elected for an easier path for Tomorrows Dreams while Jackpot will sit out this weekend's action and will instead return to racing as a three-year-old next week (Southern Hemisphere-bred horses like him turn a year older on August 1).
“I could have gone for the Magic Millions race, but it is a capacity field (16 runners) and there was a high chance he would have drawn wide, which would have meant the end of his chances,” said Dean.
“Jackpot will run next week when he turns three, and as for Tomorrows Dreams, I much prefer the easier option in Friday's Restricted Maiden race (1000m) for two-year-olds.
“He's (Tomorrows Dreams) still a bit green, but he's done all right, especially at his second start when he was taking on older horses and did very well to run third.
“I know he will again run into a smart one (Super Junior), but he's got the race experience advantage and fingers crossed, he goes all right.”
Dean, who also saddles another unraced two-year-old (He Can Dance) in Friday night's second RM race for two-year-olds, has entrusted the reins aboard Tomorrows Dreams to his loyal track rider Erasmus Aslam.
“Aslam could not ride him at his last start because he carried 48kg. That's why Alan Ng rode him and he rode him great,” said Dean.
“He's drawn out a bit (barrier No 9) again, but I think it doesn't really matter as he can get back and run on. Aslam knows the horse very well as he rides him in all his trackwork.”
While Dean has high hopes for his untried juveniles (he still has seven or eight waiting in the wings, but who will now race as three-year-olds), he will be feeling a few more butterflies in the stomach in Friday's lucky last when he unveils an “old new” horse - Lindt.
The Brazilian-bred three-year-old will be his very first runner for leading South African owner Fred Crabbia, of Rocket Man fame, when he lines up in the $55,000 Class 4 race over 1200m. Crabbia has never had another Singapore-based trainer besides Patrick Shaw to handle his big team of horses since his famous black and red maltese cross silks were first carried at Kranji in 2001.
“Fred gave me a chance as Pat has too many and can't keep them all,” said Dean laughing. “He's sent me five, Lindt, Atlixco (both previously from Shaw) and three two-year-olds and I'm certainly honoured Fred has chosen me to train his horses.
“Lindt is my first runner for him and he's going really good. He ran third in a trial last Tuesday and I was happy enough with that run.
“I would have preferred a longer distance for him first-up, but he's got to start off somewhere, and hopefully he'll go okay.”
In 14 starts under Shaw, Lindt has scored two wins (1600m and 1800m) and three thirds for prizemoney close to $85,000. Though he does not use him all that often, Dean has decided to stick with the jockey who arguably knows Lindt the best for having ridden him at his two wins, Barend Vorster.