Emirates Park’s first season sire Dream Ahead (USA) is a hit with some of the best judges in the business after parading at the stud’s open day last week.

Dream Ahead has been a major drawcard from the time he arrived at the Murrurundi property and is assured of a full book which has been capped at 130.

Among the many industry participants to inspect Dream Ahead were Peter Heagney (Inglis), Louis Mihalyka (Laurel Oak) and Scott Holcombe (Tyreel Stud).

Heagney was looking forward to inspecting Dream Ahead and wasn’t disappointed.  “What did pleasantly surprise me was how much scope and athleticism he had for a sprinter of his calibre.  He is certainly going to let down into a most attractive stallion.  I think his conformation will suit almost any type of Australian mare and his pedigree, being free of Danzig, also gives breeders a wonderful choice.”

Mihalyka said most Australian breeders probably don’t appreciate Dream Ahead’s ability as a high-class racehorse.  “He has the second best Group 1 winning strike-rate of any stallion currently available in Australia.  And what a good-looking, beautifully-balanced horse to go with the race record.  If he was by a ‘sexier’ sire he would be standing for a lot more money.”

Holcombe was also impressed.  “Watching his footage we were hoping to see a strong horse.  I was surprised, he was more like a colonial horse – strong shoulder, deep girth, with a power hindquarter, loose walk and a strong, broad head!”

Dream Ahead (Diktat) is standing for a $27,500 fee this season after completing his first northern hemisphere book at Ballylinch Stud in Ireland.  He was a G1 winner of the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp and also scored at the elite level in the Middle Park Stakes and July Cup at Newmarket, Prix Morny at Deauville and Sprint Cup at Haydock.

He was also rated England’s Champion 2YO in 2010 with none other than superstar colt Frankel.