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I DREAM AGAIN, a June foal who Derrick Smith gifted himself as an 80th birthday present, yesterday handed the former member of parliament and owner of 2015 Jamaica Derby winner, Seeking My Dream, his “most pleasing classic win”, a length-and-three-quarter victory at odds of 5-1 in the Jamaica St Leger.
“I am on top of the world this evening,” said Smith, who has owned other top runners such as crack sprinter Spectacular Run, and 2000 Guineas winner Mr Sensational (1995), before Seeking My Dream won the Derby, back-to-back Diamond Miles and Horse of the Year titles, 2015-16.
“Though I have won classics before, the Guineas and the Derby, this was particularly pleasing to me because I waited 10 years for this victory,” said Smith, alluding to Seeking My Dream’s stunning loss to Harry Parsard’s Superluminal in the 2015 St Leger, confirmed after one of the longest-ever stewards’ enquiries at Caymanas Park.
The stewards overruled Omar Walker’s jockey’s objection against Superluminal with Paul Francis after a bumping match in the closing stages of the 10-furlong event.
“Up to this day, I have been watching that race. I have watched it many times over. We appealed and nothing came of it. However, 10 years later, I returned to win the race,” said a triumphant Smith.
Recounting how he selected and purchased I DREAM AGAIN (Soul Warrior-Lady Najariya) for $3m at the 2023 Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Mixed Sale, Smith said, similar to buying multiple-winner Senator D, more than 50 years ago, he went with pedigree.
“I woke up the Sunday morning and took up the catalogue, saying I was going to get myself a birthday gift. I saw the horse and was impressed by the breeding,” he said, possibly drawn to Lady Najariya’s father, Legal Process, who also sired Alsafra, the 2008 Triple Crown winning-filly, who took her greatness to the breeding shed, foaling Seeking My Dream.
“I didn’t even realise he was a late foal,” Smith mused.
“Probably if I had seen that, I wouldn’t have bought him. I called the trainer (Jason DaCosta) and gave him a figure to work with,” he added.
A nine-length winner at five and a half furlongs on debut, early March, I DREAM AGAIN finished fourth in the Prince Consort and Kingston prep races for June’s 2000 Guineas, in which he placed third behind SENSATIONAL SOUL and BOB THE BUILDER.
Robert Halledeen, last year’s Mouttet Mile-winning jockey, stuck with I DREAM AGAIN, despite finishing five lengths behind SENSATIONAL SOUL and BOB THE BUILDER in the 2000 Guineas at a mile.
Held sixth off the pace down the backstretch, while 25-1 outsider HANSA made a sweeping move to tackle BOB THE BUILDER on the lead, Halledeen urged I DREAM AGAIN to go after the leaders leaving the half-mile marker.
Taking aim at the filly HANSA, who had peeled off from BOB THE BUILDER, I DREAM AGAIN turned for home needing four lengths to pull level while Guineas winners SENSATIONAL SOUL and BURNING HEDGE swooped wide for the kill.
BURNING HEDGE, though given far too much to do by her rider, made a brave run to go by SENSATIONAL SOUL and BOB THE BUILDER, but came up against a bustling Halledeen, who roused I DREAM AGAIN to reel in HANSA shades from the wire, reminiscent of his Mouttet Mile win aboard FUNCAANDUN.
English (US) ·