The Chris Waller-trained import Kings Will Dream (IRE) scored an emotional win in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington at the expense of his better-fancied stablemate Finche (GB).
Providing popular young rider Jye McNeil with his first Group 1 winner Kings Will Dream (IRE) defeated Finche (GB) (Frankel) by a short-head with Hartnell (GB) (Authorized) three-quarters of a length back in third. (images Grant Courtney )
The 5yo son of the Shamardal stallion Casamento suffered a life-threating broken pelvis in last years Cox Plate and part-owner Brae Sokolski said it has been an emotional roller-coaster since.
"This is as emotional as I've been on a racecourse," Sokolski said after leading the Turnbull winner back to scale.
"That horse is just so special. He was on his deathbed, he was gone let alone racing again. Everyone that has anything to do with him just loves him. For him to come back like that is a testament to his fortitude and character.
"Even when he won the Mornington Cup he galloped on himself and cut himself that badly it almost went through a tendon."
Waller's Melbourne stable representative Jo Taylor said the Cox Plate is on the agenda again.
"These horses are amazing animals, the things that they can go through and come back from," Taylor said.
"It's a fantastic feat for a horse like him, with the nature of the injury he had not to just race but be competitive at the top level, it's a testament to the horse's heart as well.
"We've always taken it one trial at a time, one race at a time with a horse like him knowing his history and he's stood up phenomenally well.
"He's clearly a champion in himself and he has the will to be here."
Kings Will Dream (Ire) was born in Ireland, his sire Casamento stood at Ljungstorps Stud in Sweden last year after three seasons at Kildangan Stud and two at Dalham Hall.
The son of former Darley shuttler Shamardal was a top-class two-year-old winning three of his four starts, including the Group II Beresford Stakes and Group 1 Racing Post Trophy and added the Group III Prix du Prince d'Orange over 2000m at Longchamp from four starts at three.
A half-brother to the black-type winning hurdler His Excellency (King's Best), King's Will Dream (IRE) was a €50,000 Goffs Orby yearling purchase, before being sold for just 7,500gns as an unraced 2-year-old at the 2016 Tattersalls' October Horses-In-Training Sale.
He placed in two maidens over a mile at Rippon before breaking his maiden over the same distance at Pontefract and was the on his way to Australia. Under the care of Darren Weir, King's Will Dream raced through his classes, reeling off five consecutive wins culminating with a five-length success in the 300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) before placings in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.
He is the best of seven winners from eight to race out of the unraced Road Harbour (Rodrigo de Triano) whose dam Nijinsky Star was purchased by Juddmonte Farms at the 1987 Keeneland November Sale. She had already produced Kentucky Oaks placed Hometown Queen who herself became the dam of Grade II winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Bowman's Band.
