Emirates Park Stud acquires half-interest in Dream Ahead

Emirates Park Stud announced that they have purchased a 50 percent share in Dream

Ahead. While the

five-time Group 1 winner is still under consideration for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup

Mile before concluding his racing career, the son of Diktat will stand the 2012 Southern

Hemisphere season at the New South Wales-based operation.

The deal was arranged

with co-owners Ballylinch Stud following the three-year-old's defeat of Goldikova in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp

on October 2.

"He's a

magnificent individual, standing 16.2 hands with an incredibly relaxed manner," Emirates Park's CEO Trevor Lobb said.

"I

think anyone who saw the preliminaries for the Prix de la Foret would have noted

what a wonderful temperament he possesses, and now I have seen it first-hand.

It's been confirmed in the past few days that Timeform rated the performance

133lb. That compares more than favorably with any sprinter ever to stand in

Australia.

"I've been looking for the most suitable new stallion to secure for

Australia since joining Emirates Park, and Dream Ahead is just that horse. I'd

started negotiating his purchase well before his Prix de la Foret victory, but

that win only made us more determined to secure him. I'd long since felt that

Dream Ahead was the perfect horse for us, because he was the perfect horse for

Australia. He's a world-class sprinter with a magical outcross for our broodmare

owners. He is an outstanding type with plenty of length and he is very

sound -- ideal for Australian conditions.

"What I personally like about Dream Ahead

is that he never carried any gear. That's always the sign of a very exciting

stallion prospect."

Dream Ahead added the Prix de la Foret to four other Group 1 wins -- this

year's July Cup and Sprint Cup as well as last season's Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes.

"We have not decided on whether he will race

again, but he really has nothing more to prove," Loeb added. "He'll be the Cartier Sprinter of

the Year, and people shouldn't forget that he was also equal top-rated

two-year-old of last season with none other than Frankel.

"Securing a horse of

Dream Ahead's caliber signals the beginning of a new era at Emirates Park. His

Excellency Nasser Lootah and his son Hussain are providing me with the backing

to develop their existing concern into one of Australia's most commercial racing

and breeding enterprises. Being given the go-ahead to secure such a

magnificently credentialed young stallion with obvious appeal in both

hemispheres is a clear indication of our intentions."

"Dream Ahead has some hugely impressive selling

points that clearly establish his innate sprinting ability," Emirates Park

nominations manager Bryan Carlson added. "For instance, his

time in winning the Prix de la Foret was the fastest in the race's history.

Also, his time when winning the Prix Morny was the race's second-fastest ever,

and his Haydock Sprint Cup was won in the third-fastest time on record. Winning

the Middle Park by nine lengths was also some feat."