Two-year-old Icarian Dream holds an edge over every other runner in the $1 million Golden Gift and connections are hoping she can take advantage of it.
The Ciaron Maher-trained filly is the only one of the nine contenders with a win beside its name and Maher’s assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord believes that could be telling in a competitive finish.
“She is the only winner in the race which is always a positive,” Gerard-Dubord said.
The daughter of Blue Point contested the official juvenile trials in September and Gerard-Dubord admitted the stable was caught somewhat off guard by her impressive performance.
“When she trialled here before the Gimcrack (Stakes), she actually surprised us, because we always liked her but the way she did it and how easily she did it, she has obviously got plenty of talent,” he said.
Icarian Dream was scratched from the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) in preference for a midweek maiden at Warwick Farm 11 days later where she travelled one-out, one-back before pushing three-wide before the corner to move into the race.
She had to fight hard to get the better of eventual runner-up Burma Star and knuckled down resolutely to put a slender margin on that horse at the finish, the final 600m sectional clocked in a slick 33.19 seconds.
“She was good at Warwick Farm. They ran a very sharp last 600 and she was very good through the line,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“She has been good since then, she worked on Monday and the1100 metres, the way she relaxes, that will be no issue.
“She is very well and she does everything right on race day.”
Icarian Dream has drawn barrier four and will be partnered by Jason Collett.
She is among six runners with race experience, that brigade also encompassing Breeders’ Plate third placegetter North England and Gimcrack Stakes runner-up O’Ole.