McCann receives his first grade success from Familiar Dreams

Familiar Dreams' smart Grade 3 mares' bumper win at Punchestown undoubtedly increased her value.

With her fourth consecutive victory, Anthony McCann's Postponed mare is scheduled to enter the sales ring following her race at Punchestown tomorrow.

She rallied for Aine O'Connor to take the lead going into the final furlong, but she crossed the Mozzies Sister, who was runner-up, with a noticeable left turn.

After a short while, O'Connor let up her whip, but she continued to drive Familiar Dreams home by half a length from Mozzie's Sister, who was nearly track-width apart, along the side rail of the stands. The winner beat Aurora Vega by two lengths to finish third, with her as the 15/8 favourite.

The winner made it through a stewards' inquiry.

McCann said: “Aine gets on great with her. She did a piece of work in the Curragh last Tuesday on the heavy sand and blew us away. I was very concerned all day about the ground. Jamie Codd rode her twice last year and he more or less said go and run her, she’s the best horse in the race. She came across the track and I don’t know why. Maybe she wanted to show herself off as she’s going into the Sales ring tomorrow evening! It’s been a dream. I sourced her myself and have got her this far. It would be a fairytale if we could get to keep her in the yard. She’s the first horse into the ring tomorrow and we have to talk about what the reserve is now. I own 20 percent of her.”

Anthony McCann's first Graded success as a trainer came from Familiar Dreams. In addition, she gave O'Connor her first Listed success in Fairyhouse, but it was also her first Grade 3 victory. O'Connor can now ride out her claim with just one more victory.

Before making a comeback in Naas, Familiar Dreams was purchased for 4,000 guineas and won a mares' bumper in Cork. She had previously landed the Listed mares' bumper at Fairyhouse.