By Elaine Belval
It’s hard to argue that Oasis Dream had a career week.
Tuscan Evening wrapped it up with her fourth victory at the Santa Anita winter meeting, taking the G2 Santa Barbara H. The week started with Keredari winning the Loughbroun Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland (defeating another son of Oasis Dream in Jamaayel). Also earning black type in the past seven days were Alta Fedelta (Premio Seregno in Italy), Sri Putra (the G3 Earl of Sefton at Newmarket), and Arcano (second in the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury).
Oasis Dream, a son of the speedy Green Desert, had his first foals in 2005 (first runners in 2007) and he already has 28 unrestricted SWs including G1 winners Aqlaam, Naaqoos, and Midday (winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf). Oasis Dream was a brilliant sprinter himself, victorious in the prestigious 5f Nunthorpe and 6f Middle Park Stakes and July Cup—all G1 events. Though he himself never won over six furlongs, his first and second dams are by Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners Dancing Brave and Mill Reef, respectively, and his female family is noted for producing stayers. The dam,for example, is a sister to a 12f Irish Oaks winner, the 2nd dam won a Listed race at 12f and was Group placed at 15f, and the 3rd dam was DQ’d from first in the Irish Oaks and was placed in the G1 St.Leger over 14f. This likely explains that while 50% of his SWs are 2yo SWs, the average winning distance of his SWs 3 and up is 8.4 furlongs.
Oasis Dream is bred on a Northern Dancer/Northern Dancer cross (Green Desert out of a Dancing Brave mare). That has not stopped him for working very well with Northern Dancer-line mares (11 SWs including Tuscan Evening). And in fact there is only one unrestricted SW inbred to Green Desert and that is Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Monitor Closely. Oasis Dream finished 2009 with 19 unrestricted SWs (17 new for 2009). With the European racing season just starting, he already has 5 2010 SWs. It seems more than likely, with this impressive early start, Oasis Dream is likely to top his 2009 record. Oasis Dream stands at Banstead Manor Farm in England for a 2010 stud fee of £65,000.
(Elaine Belval is Senior Pedigree Analyst for WTC)