Raceday LIVE – Phoenix Of Dreams
Related horse(s):
Phoenix Of DreamsRead our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Phoenix Of Dreams' lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Our promising three-year-old has had a productive year so far following his debut back in April at Thirsk. Since then, he's been in action a further seven times across both the turf and all-weather, and remarkably has only finished out of the top three on one occasion when he had an obvious excuse at Chester when the ground had turned near bottomless after a deluge of rain.
His best effort to date, however, possibly came last time out on just his second start on the all-weather as he stepped back into handicap company at Newcastle. As he broke from the stalls under regular pilot Jason Hart, nobody quite fancied going to the front, so Jason allowed him to take the field along and he showed good speed early on. He was a little keen through the opening stages, and the fact he didn't have another horse on his right for cover possibly lead to him hanging slightly, but that didn't stop him from putting in a top performance.
The pair remained prominent throughout, and in the final stages it looked as though they might go onto win, but in a bunched finish, Phoenix Of Dreams ended up being touched off by just a neck, coming home in third to still land his 10 lucky owners for the day £980 in prize money to share.
WATCH: Raceday Highlights from Newcastle
We were really pleased with that effort at Newcastle, as were trainers John & Sean Quinn. A couple of days after the race, Sean sent us a video update and this is what he had to say:
"Following a cracking race at Newcastle the other day, he's come out of it in really good form. John and I were delighted with the run. The figures say that it was the best run of his life so far, which is really encouraging.
We are mindful that at some point he's going to need a holiday, but off the back of that really good run, we don't think it's wise to put him away just yet.
I think there's progress left in this horse through the winter months and hopefully he can make into a nice sprint handicapper next year."
Trainers John and Sean Quinn at their yard in Yorkshire
Phoenix Of Dreams will have a new jockey onboard at Newcastle this evening, as Harrison Shaw has his first ride for the Coral Racing Club. The 28-year-old has ridden a few times for John & Sean Quinn before, and he has plenty of experience riding at Wolverhampton. This is good news as it will be Phoenix's first effort over six furlongs on the all-weather going around a bend, with his two previous efforts before being on the straight AW track at Southwell and Newcastle.
Phoenix Of Dreams has been drawn in stall 9 again, which is unfortunate, but hopefully he'll be able to break sharply from the gates and get in a good position under Harrison. If there isn't much pace on, he could be allowed to go out in front and try make all given how well he travelled for the most part last time out.
WATCH: Raceday update from trainer Sean Quinn
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, gives us his thoughts ahead of Phoenix Of Dreams race at Wolverhampton this evening
Phoenix Of Dreams couldn’t follow up his maiden win at Redcar when back to the all-weather at Newcastle 10 days ago, but that was an improved effort on anything he’s achieved previously and is noted down as a career best performance in defeat. That close third place in a competitive handicap was aided by a good tactical ride but it’s an effort that suggests he has more races in him and this doesn’t look as competitive as the one he was beaten in last time. That said, he has a tough enough draw to work with from stall 9 and that could prove a negative and the task for rider Harrison Shaw will to avoid being trapped too wide in what has the potential to be a well-run race.
A wide trip is something Crimson Sand couldn’t avoid last time and he’s probably best forgiven that disappointing run at Chelmsford on account of that. In better form than that run suggests, he’s still feasibly handicapped and looks a danger to all from a nice draw in stall 3. Moulin Booj finished ahead of him last time and is in good form but may not have loads of handicapping scope and while I expect he can run well, I think something is likely to have more in hand. One who does look nicely enough treated is the unexposed Harry Did, a last-time-out winner at Leicester who will be suited by the projected strong tempo. He already has proven form on the AW and his best two runs have been when fresh so a 149 day break since his maiden win is taken as a positive rather than a negative.
Phoenix Of Dreams' Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Phoenix Of Dreams' run at Wolverhampton this evening.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Wolverhampton Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Phoenix Of Dreams and the John & Sean Quinn team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Phoenix Of Dreams.
Prize Money
Today's Class 4 contest is worth £9,500 in total, with the winner set to scoop £4,972 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £2,333 | 3rd: £1,165 | 4th: £583 | 5th: £290
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
John & Sean Quinn have been quiet of late only sending out seven runners in the past two weeks, with only two managing to finish in the top three, including Phoenix Of Dreams' effort last time out.
Harrison Shaw has ridden one winner with a further two finishing second and third in his last eight rides. With almost 200 rides under his belt at Wolverhampton, the Yorkshire based jockey has plenty of experience riding at the track which is a big plus.
20:00 WOLVERHAMPTON – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 20:00 to watch Phoenix Of Dreams' next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.