Charlie Fellowes believes the booking of Kieran Shoemark will be a major boost for the chances of Vadream in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The six-year-old has consistently run with credit this season without managing to get her nose in front, and Fellowes is confident of another big effort in what could potentially be her final visit to a racecourse.
Last seen earlier this month in the Bengough Stakes at Ascot, she was only beaten one and half lengths in that Group Three contest.
Fellowes thinks the ground – which is sure to be testing – can bring out the best in her and said: “The ground is in her favour. She’s been in arguably as good form as I think she’s ever been in this season.
“I think she did a career-best in the Haydock Sprint Cup (beaten less than two lengths in fourth).
“She’s put in a huge amount of very solid efforts in defeat elsewhere, beaten four lengths in a July Cup, beaten four lengths in the Diamond Jubilee, fourth in the Haydock Sprint Cup.
“You know really she’s thrown in three below-par runs – twice over five furlongs when the ground was too quick in Ireland and in the King’s Stand and then I don’t really know what happened at Haydock in the Temple.
“But otherwise she has been absolutely rock-solid. I was keen to run her in the Bengough, she loves the slop, she loves Ascot and she’s got a very good record in the race. She usually finishes about fifth or sixth and not beaten far.”
Away from the ground, Fellowes sees the relationship between Vadream and Shoemark as the biggest factor in her favour for the return trip to the Berkshire track.
“One thing that is a big, big plus is that we’ve got Kieran Shoemark back on board. No offence to any of the other jockeys that have ridden her, they’ve all done a very good job, but Kieran has always got on with her the best.
“They have a real affinity so having him back on board is a big plus for us. She loves being ridden by him and that’s very important.”
The Champions Sprint will be the last time Vadream runs this year and could even be her last race before retirement.
Fellowes added: “That will be her for the season and then I need to have a chat with the owner and see whether we call it a day and whether we let her go to the breeding shed and have babies or whether we go again next year, and I have a feeling I know what he’s going to say.”
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