A journey of over 3,600 miles proved worth it for the Wathnan Racing owned Haunted Dream, who landed this $94,500 Grade 3 prize for trainer Hamad Al Jehani under Rafael Hernandez. Well placed throughout, there were very few concerns for the British raider, who sat behind the early pace before being brought wide to make his challenge as the field turned for home. He ranked 1st for both top speed (39.2 mph) and his finishing speed, running the fastest final furlong in 11.91s as he ran out a comfortable 2-length winner with a run-out speed of 34.31 mph. For a brief moment, the odds-on favourite looked in trouble around the turn as he swung wide off the final turn and allowed Dancin in Da’Nile to get the first run for the line. The eventual 3rd had a length lead at the furlong pole, but he simply served as a target for Haunted Dream to run at. The winner and the 2nd placed Tosen Wish both ran down the lead horse, with Haunted Dream coming widest of all and ultimately deserving to win, but the sectional times data does suggest that the runner-up was slightly unlucky having been the fastest horse in the 9th and 10th furlongs. Tosen Wish also recorded the fastest run-out speed in the field at 34.72 mph, but his record of 4-19 does temper enthusiasm that he could be a winner in waiting. He began his career in Ireland with Ado McGuinness, reaching a peak rating of 85, but he is just 1 from 6 since moving to Woodbine and whilst this step up in trip has clearly helped, he recorded the shortest average stride length in the field and having gotten himself into a winning position, his final furlong effort was somewhat underwhelming.

Haunted Dream was having his 35th start and to be fair to him, he has won 7 of those starts and certainly rewarded his connections for a well-judged piece of race planning to land the biggest payday of his career. However, he was soundly beaten by Royal Dubai in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock last month, where he was slower than the winner over each of the final 7-furlong splits. It would probably be a mistake to think that he improved to win this race, especially given the rating that the Irish handicapper gave to the runner-up, but having already been on his travels to the Middle East last winter, it’s not impossible to think that Haunted Dream could win another International prize in the months ahead.