Live In The Dream On Target For Temple Return

Monday, April 15, 2024 | 8:23 am

Updated: April 15, 2024 at 8:26 am

File photo dated 25-08-2023 of Live In The Dream ridden by jockey Sean Kirrane who Adam West is mulling over his options for shock Nunthorpe winner, with both Paris Longchamp and Keeneland possible stopping points en route to the BreedersÕ Cup. Issue date: Monday August 28, 2023 PA Photo. See PA story RACING Dream. Photo credit should read Simon Marper/PA Wire.

Adam West has outlined his plans in 2024 for stable star Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), who is likely to make his first start of the campaign in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock on Saturday, May 25.

In 2023, Live In The Dream provided his trainer with a first Group 1 success when winning the Nunthorpe S. at York's Ebor Festival, beating Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by a length at odds of 28/1. He was subsequently sent on his travels and performed with credit in two races in the US, latterly finishing a close-up fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in November.

“It took him a bit of time to unwind from the Breeders' Cup,” West said of those exertions. “He was physically quite tired from the journey on the way back. It took a lot longer for him to be able to switch off but, now he's been able to do that, he has really benefited from it. He spelled at Hen Knight's and he's come back really well. In my opinion, he is the best physically and mentally that I've ever seen him.”

As for future plans, West added, “We split the season last year to get more racing out of him, but now we're hoping for loftier targets and less racing–obviously we can't go to Lingfield and Pontefract anymore!

“There's a good bit of condition on him that still needs to come off and we're hoping to start him out in the Temple Stakes in May. The main aim will be the Nunthorpe and he's probably going to be campaigned with that in mind, hopefully with the added bonus of going to America.”