Nunthorpe the target for Live In The Deam

Adam West’s stable star feeling benefit of recent Deauville trip.

Live In The Dream is the latest sprinter set to line up in a top-tier running of the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes later this month.

York’s Group One contest is shaping up to be a red-hot affair with the likes of defending champion Highfield Princess, King’s Stand winner Bradsell and a whole host of sprinting talent on course for the Knavesmire.

And Adam West’s charge looks well worth his place in the field judged on his efforts earlier in the campaign.

Live In The Dream and Ryan Moore (right) in action at Chester
Live In The Dream and Ryan Moore (right) in action at Chester (Tim Goode/PA)

Having struck twice in handicaps early season, the four-year-old took the step up to Pattern level in his stride, placing in both the Palace House Stakes and the Temple Stakes at Haydock before being given a mid-season break by his handler.

He returned at Deauville earlier this month where he was only beaten a length when fourth in the Prix du Cercle, and West believes that outing in conditions which were far from ideal, will have blown away plenty of cobwebs ahead of his first outing in Group One company.

“I feel like the elements were against him a little bit and we had a rough journey over there ourselves,” explained West.

“The horses went OK and we had horrendous rain for the two-year-old we took over which made it really hard work and then we had really drying tacky ground with a strong headwind for Live In The Dream.

Live In The Dream (right) ran a fine race when third in the Temple Stakes
Live In The Dream (right) ran a fine race when third in the Temple Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)

“We probably ran six furlongs rather than five and he was only beaten a length and had a good blow so it will see him right. But I do just feel we were a little hard done by.

“He’s come on really well, the French cuisine has obviously suited him and he enjoyed it. It was something different and the horse has never been abroad and it has really picked him up. I look forward to getting him out again because he looks a good 10 kilos better than what he went over there looking.”

Prior to that comeback run in France, West had been eyeing up a possible trip oversees with the Steve and Jolene De’Lemos-owned speedster.

However, there has now been a slight rethink and it is all systems go for York on August 26 where a bold showing could tee-up further big-race entries.

“We couldn’t quite pick up enough money to head to America, so we’ll head to the Nunthorpe now, the entry is in and we’ll take our chance there,” continued West.

“We’re not expecting to trouble the market principals, but if we can pick up a nice bit of place money it might be able to fund something next year.

“I’m not sure Dubai will be on the radar or anything like that, but it might be able to fund some bigger targets and hopefully he will be able to stick it out a bit better.

“We’re not admitting defeat for the international prospects, but we will probably just rein in targets and hunt pots on a bit of a smaller scale and then see what we can do and pick up some place money in some of the bigger ones.”

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