Crystal Dreamer crushes the field in Doveton Stakes

Crystal Dreamer
Crystal Dreamer ridden by Damian Lane wins the Clanbrooke Racing Doveton Stakes at Sandown. Photo: Racing.com

FIVE-YEAR-OLD gelding Crystal Dreamer bounced back to its top-tier form after a barnstorming win in the Doveton Stakes at Sandown.

Racing for the first time since running second to Ball Of Muscle in the Absolut Stakes at Flemington, Crystal Dreamer was able to take the front early in the piece and drive its rivals into the ground to deliver $2.90 at Crownbet.

Lady Esprit ($4.60 at William Hill) finished well behind the winner in second while Gun Case maintained its strong run of recent form to return $2.20 via Sportsbet.

Crystal Dreamer had been average until the second placing at Flemington last-start, and trainer Matthew Ellerton said the race was run to suit.

“He’s a pretty solid sort of sprinter,” Ellerton said.

“He probably three and four starts back he probably lost his way a touch but he’s last two runs have been great and it looked a good race on paper for him today.”

The co-trainer was full of praise for the ride.

“Damian (Lane) just controlled the race on him … the only thing was backing up after Oaks day and he did that with ease.”

The horse looked to have the race won a long way from home, and jockey Damian Lane said everything went according to plan for the winner.

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“Things did exactly the opposite, they went wrong for him,” Lane said of Crystal Dreamer’s last-start second behind Ball Of Muscle.

“Today he jumped cleanly, I probably didn’t envision myself leading but 300m out of the barrier he grabbed the bridle and took off.

“He said ‘it’s my day today’ so I let him do his thing and he was too strong.”

Lane said the victory was a long-time coming for son of Stratum.

“He deserves a win like this.

“He’s been building towards a win like this so it’s good to get a win on the board.”

There are no plans set in place for the gelding following Saturday’s win, in what was the fifth run this preparation.

Ellerton said the team will wait and see how the horses recovers before making a decision on the immediate future.

“We’ll just see how he pulls up and hopefully he’ll be fine.”

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