Ballylinch Stud has decided to retire Dream Ahead forthwith and a planned bid for the Breeders’ Cup will not go ahead.

A last-start winner over Goldikova in the G1 Prix de la Forêt, Dream Ahead will stand for a 17,500 euros fee in Ireland.  A decision on his southern fee at Emirates Park will be made shortly.  His book in both hemispheres will be limited to 130 mares.

“Dream Ahead was bought with a stud career in mind and we were keen to proceed with that plan,” Ballylinch managing director John O’Connor said.  “He is a most straightforward horse and retires to stud 100% sound.”

Dream Ahead (Diktat) won five Group 1 races, the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes as a two-year-old, and the July Cup, Haydock Park Sprint Cup and Prix De La Forêt at three.

Dream Ahead was joint top-rated two-year-old in Europe in 2010 alongside Frankel, and is currently the highest-rated sprinter in Europe.  Dream Ahead and Oasis Dream are the only horses since 1973 to win both the Middle Park and the July Cup.