Contract Racing's homebred Crystal Dreamer earned a well-deserved maiden stakes win with a dominant performance in Saturday's Listed Clanbrooke Racing Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Sandown.
Damian Lane controlled the race from the front on the strapping chestnut who was untroubled to hold the challenge of Lady Esprit (Bel Esprit) by two and a quarter lengths with Gun Case (War Pass) a head back in third.
A three-quarter brother to Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily (Stratum), the Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained gelding, advances his record to 9 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $415,060.
"He is a pretty solid sough of sprinter. Three or four starts back he probably lost his way a touch but his last two runs have been great and this looked a good race on paper for him today," Ellerton said.
"Damian controlled the race on him he was only a kilo over the limit but the only thing in the back of my mind was he was backing up from Oaks day but he did that with ease."
A half-brother to the stakes-placed Fast Talker (Fastnet Rock), Crystal Dreamer is out of the stakes-winning Distorted Humor (USA) mare Crystal Wit.
A half-sister to three other stakes winners headed by the ill-fated Crystal Lilly, Crystal Wit has a 2yo colt by Helmet, a yearling filly by Starspangledbanner and last week foaled a colt by Written Tycoon.
Crystal Dreamer becomes the 35th stakes-winner for Stratum who died at Widden Stud in September last year and has been succeeded by his dual Group I winning son Stratum Star.
