Beverly D win for Hayley Turner on I'm A Dreamer
Report: USA, Saturday
Arlington Park: Beverly D Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1½f, turf, 3yo+ f/m
HAYLEY TURNER landed the third top-level victory of her career on Saturday when she partnered I'm A Dreamer to a narrow success in the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes, highlight of the supporting features on the Arlington Million card in Chicago.
Britain's most successful female jockey was teaming up again with David Simcock, the Newmarket trainer who also supplied her debut Group 1 success with Dream Ahead in last year's July Cup.
Although 6.3-1 shot I'm A Dreamer hadn't won since the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes at last year's Guineas meeting, the five-year-old daughter of Noverre had been beaten only a head in the EP Taylor Stakes on her last transatlantic sortie at Woodbine in October last year.
This time around the mare held on by the same margin after Turner got first run on domestic hope Marketing Mix, the pair holding too many guns in the final furlong for the John Gosden-trained Joviality, who took third three-quarters of a length further back.
"I can't believe it," said Turner, who had settled I'm A Dreamer near the back of the ten-runner field in the first half of the race before producing her to challenge after they exited the turn.
"Thanks to David Simcock and his team because I haven't had a lot to do with this filly," she added. "I always think that when you have a horse with a lot of ability, it makes your job a lot easier and I thought she had a good chance.
"She had a good attitude before the race. I think she seems to sparkle when she's over here - she's been here before."
For Simcock, the victory represented the achievement of a long-term plan to snare an American Grade 1 with his stable stalwart - although he admitted he was scared by the runner-up's late charge. "That felt like a long stretch but she just quickened up when that closer was coming," he said.
William Buick, who lost his whip in the stretch, was pleased with the performance of third-placed Joviality, who pressed the leader Romacaca in the early running.
"She ran perfect," he said. "Colm O'Donoghue [on Up] knocked the whip out of my hands turning into the straight, so I lost the whip but she ran great. This is probably her career-best. I was very happy with her."
After taking the lead around the far turn, Up faded to finish sixth for Aidan O'Brien, whose assistant TJ Comerford said: "She ran well all the way. She got a bit tired, but she ran her race. It was a good race."
The favourite Aruna was slowly away and finished last of the ten runners.
