Walker relishes French connection

Dreamloper won the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in Paris on Sunday for Lambourn’s Ed Walker – but the race was overshadowed by the death of Classic-winner Coroebus, who sustained fatal injuries in a fall.

The 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner went off as the 7/4 favourite in France but suffered a fall that resulted in his tragic death.

Dreamloper came home to win her second Group 1 in Paris in impressive fashion, finishing five-and-a-half lengths clear of Aidan O’Brien’s Order of Australia.

“She was beautifully relaxed and in a great position, there was never really a moment’s doubt,” Walker said.

“Turning in I was so confident, it was all going so well, and then suddenly Coroebus went down, William (Buick) had a horrendous fall, we didn’t know what to think.

“I had to double take that it was Dreamloper crossing the line at the end, it seemed surreal, we weren’t celebrating, it was a great win but it was hard.

"We're delighted William's alright, it's a real shame to lose Coroebus, our thoughts go out to all his connections."

It was the third time jockey Kieran Shoemark has won aboard the mare since he first partnered up with her at the Sun Chariot Stakes in October, when she was an impressive third.

Walker said: “I wanted to have some continuity with her, Kieran’s given us that and he’s been brilliant, he’s committed and he’s got on extremely well with her.”

Dreamloper landed both the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket and the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp in May, but was then unsuccessful twice over 1m2f in the Pretty Polly and Nassau Stakes.

“The step up was a mistake, I got it wrong,” Walker said.

“There were a number of reasons it didn’t work, we had a lot of rain and wet, soft ground.

“She had a couple of off days, she wasn’t relaxed, she didn’t quite suit the trip, that happens in racing.”

Walker now looks set to continue to race the five-year-old over a mile, and is targetting an audacious assault on either the Breeders’ Cup Mile or the Filly and Mare Turf in the US in November, which both hold a $2 million prize purse.

Between then and now, the Lambourn trainer might be tempted to go back in for a second crack at the Sun Chariot Stakes, which takes place next month.

“A lot of it depends on the ground,” Walker said.

“I’d love to win a Group 1 with her on home soil, if the ground is suitable we’ll give the Sun Chariot serious consideration.

“As for Kentucky, it can be very wet in November, but it’ll definitely be considered, we’d prefer fast ground.

“We’re keeping our options open but the Breeders’ Cup is the ultimate goal.

“I think we’re more likely to go for the Mile, I think that’s the race where she’ll perform to her best, we’ll see.”