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Live In The Dream leaves West 'stunned' following Nunthorpe victory

3 minute read

The Epsom-based handler recorded by far the biggest success of his career when Live In The Dream scored clear down the Knavesmire for Nunthorpe glory.

LIVE IN THE DREAM. Picture: Healy Racing.

Live In The Dream provided both trainer Adam West and jockey Sean Kirrane with the greatest victory of their respective careers when he showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.

With seemingly plenty to find following his fourth-place finish in Listed company at Deauville earlier in the month, Adam West's charge was sent off a 28/1 chance on his first start at the top-level.

An emotional West told Racing TV: "I can't believe it! This is amazing, everything happens for a reason. We didn't get good luck at Deauville. We swerved America to come here, and it looks like he's going out there now with the ticket.

"This is a horse we've had so much fun with and so much faith in. He's been with us since a yearling, what a journey. I never thought it was possible to win it.

"We were just so happy for six places, we were laughing and joking about the place betting and how skinny it was. I had nothing on! Money doesn't matter, that is amazing, I've had a Group 1 winner."

"In the Temple Stakes we think the ground might have been a touch too quick for him and he hung a little bit away from the rail. Today with that tiny bit of rain he has been able to fully let himself down and keep straight.

"This is incredible I never thought anything like this would happen. Seven years I've been training, and we've had him from a yearling and the journey has been incredible.

"I have to do what I have to do and if a horse shows the ability, I will stick them in the races. That's what I have always done. It's a really tough game at the moment and you look at how things are, and you think 'is this a future' and then you get something like this, and it changes everything.

"I've always joked that we had the fastest horse in the south of England, and we've just gone and proved it I think."

West confirmed that a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint would be next on the list for his stable star, with a trip to Del Mar last season thwarted due to costs. However, with the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner earning an automatic spot in the Breeders Cup later this year, Live In The Dream will now get his chance to shine on the biggest stage in America.

"We're not wealthy, we're not a big yard. Steve and Jolene [De'Lemos] are great owners but not the high tiers and it was just too expensive to go out there [Del Mar].

West added: "I think he's 10lb better on a turning track. That's a big statement, but I do,"

"He gets that position, and he can get a breather. On these straight courses, he doesn't get a breather, but he's just nicked enough today."

Although now a Group 1 winner, West doesn't plan to leave Epsom anytime soon. He said: "Epsom is the perfect mix of town and country for me."

"I can be out with my ferrets in 20 minutes one way and out in town with my owners 20 minutes the other."

"It's the perfect place for me and I'm very happy. The owners in that tight-knit community have been fantastic. All this week and the last six months Epsom has been quoted saying it needs a Group One winner and they have just had one.

He went on: "It's not viable [training], it is simply not viable. The BHA do their best to govern and mind us as trainers, but realistically unless you are on the top, top scale, training is not a viable option.

"But money is not why any of us do it, we do it because we love the animals, and we love the whole sport. Ultimately grassroots will always be there because of the passion, but we are under serious strain and any help we would be grateful of.

"But we will take this as one of the peaks."

It was an all-the-way success for Live In The Dream, who showed bundles of early pace to lead up towards the far side and he found plenty for pressure under Sean Kirrane to deny Highfield Princess (7/5 favourite) of back-to-back victories in the race by a length. Bradsell finished a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Kirrane, who recently lost his claim was riding in a Group 1 for the first time and told ITV Racing: "I can say to you with an absolute degree of certainty that it hasn't sunk in yet. Going by that line was some feeling in front.

"To give this lad an opportunity to show that he's a real top-level sprinter is amazing. I have to say thanks to the owners Steve and Jolene [De'Lemos] and also Adam West."

When asked at what point he thought he had the race in the bag.

Kirrane added: "When I was approaching the furlong pole and hadn't used my whip yet and I could hear the cracks of the whip behind me. I could see out of the corner of my eye the near side group falling away. That's when I thought if this horse sticks on, I'm in with a good shout."

Unibet made the winner 16/1 for glory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.