A half-brother to Swedish Dream, who retired at the end of the 2022-season, Catch a Dream will be part of Anniike's team in 2023. This French bred colt is a son of Postponed, a high class middle distance performer for trainer Roger Varian in Newmarket, who guided the son of Dubawi through an excellent career that included top level wins in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Juddmonte International Stakes and Sheema Classic. The dam, Demeanour, was a Listed winner in Sweden and she comes from the solid female line that also produced Irish St. Leger (G1) winner Dark Lomond, Dubai Gold Cup (G2) winner Chartres as well as Gothic Dream, runner-up in the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) and third in the Irish Oaks (G1). 

Demeanour ran 29 times for three wins, five second place finishes and eight third place finishes. Her win strike rate was thus just over 10% but note how often she finished in the top three - and she was competing in some tough races. Bred by Barronstown Stud in the USA, she was trained by Valmir De Azeredo. Her career high was the win in Jockeyklubbens Avelslöpning (LR) over 2400 metres on dirt at Jägersro, where she defeated the Wido Neuroth trained star La Zona to win by a head. The English raider Allannah Abu, representing Sir Mark Prescott's Newmarket team, finished third, a length and a half behind the two principles. La Zona was 92kg-rated winner of 11 races, including the following year's edition of the same event and also the Swedish Oaks, while Allannah Abu was a winner of three races in England, so it's safe to say that Demeanour produced a strong performance on this occasion. Theatrical Award was amongst the unplaced runners. 

Out of a mare with such stamina, and by Postponed - who won at the top level over 12 furlongs in England -, Catch a Dream is bred to stay further than Swedish Dream did. He was at his best from 1600 to 1800 metres. Whatever distance proves to suit him best, let's hope Catch a Dream one day runs to the same level of form as Swedish Dream did - though first things first; 2023 will probably be a learning season for this well bred import.  GS 290223

PDF-catalogue page / Arqana Sales