Ispahan: Dreamloper beats the boys

May 29, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). – The only mare starting in the 145th renewal of the €250,000 Prix d’Ispahan (Gr1), the British raider Dreamloper (Lope de Vega) had just won the Dahlia Stakes (Gr2) at Newmarket for her return, beating the French-trained Ebaiyra. She had concluded her 2021 campaign with a 3rd place in the Sun Chariot Stakes (Gr1). On Sunday, however, she caused a mild upset with her first Gr1 win over ParisLongchamp's atypical 1,850 metres trip. The last female winner of the race was Golden Lilac (Galileo), in 2012, who succeeded Goldikova (Anabaa)'s double in the race. Trained by Ed Walker, Dreamloper won by 2 lengths the good closer Wally (Siyouni). Welle rated in there before the race, Pretty Tiger (Sea The Moon), Dilawar (Dubawi) and Sealiway (Galiway) had to make do with minor placings, all packed in a tight group.

The race was first led by Sealiway, but Dreamloper soon took over to set her pace without being challenged whatsoever, which made Kieran Shoemark's ride almost impossible to catch in the end.

Bred by Olivia Hore, the winner is out of Livia’s Dream (Teofilo), a Listed-placed in Britain. Her gelding brother was sold for £27,000 last year at Tattersalls. The family goes down to the good Yawl (Rainbow Quest), dam of  Prowess (Peintre Célèbre), a Cheshire Oaks (L) 3rd at Chester who ended her career with an unsuccessful trial at the Croisé-Laroche for trainer Richard Gibson, but she gave the 2013 Oaks winner Talent (New Approach), dam of the good Ambition (Dubawi), a dual winner of the Prix Fille de l'Air (Gr3), also placed in the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1).