2024 Eclipse Awards: Cinderella's Dream

Cinderella’s Dream arrived in the United States in early summer less than two months after the first loss of her career, a seventh-place finish in the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in early May.

The loss was her only disappointing race of 2024, a season in which Cinderella’s Dream was outstanding in three starts in the United States.

By winning two starts in New York, and finishing a close second in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar, Cinderella’s Dream earned a position as a finalist for two Eclipse Awards for 2024 – outstanding turf female and outstanding 3-year-old filly.

Owned and bred by Sheikh Mohammed’s powerful Godolphin Racing and trained by Charlie Appleby, Cinderella’s Dream won her first four starts in England and Dubai in 2023 and in early 2024. The streak included a victory in the $217,800 Jumeirah 1000 Guineas by 5 1/2 lengths at a mile on turf in Dubai in March, even though jockey William Buick’s saddle slipped during the race.

After the loss by 4 1/4 lengths to the longshot Elmalka in the English 1000 Guineas, the only time in her career she was not been ridden by Buick, Cinderella’s Dream started at 1 3/16 miles for the first time in her American debut in the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational at Aqueduct.

The longer trip was not an issue. Ridden by Buick, Cinderella’s Dream closed from eighth of nine to win by three-quarters of a length, displaying a sharp late rally. The style of the win in the $500,000 Belmont Oaks was similar to her victories overseas.

:: Full list of 2024 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

“She picked up really well from the quarter pole,” Buick told Daily Racing Form. “I always felt I was going to get there. She showed when she ran in Dubai in the winter she’s got a real good kick.”

Nearly four weeks later, Cinderella’s Dream delivered a similar performance in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks, a $400,000 race at 1 3/16 miles. The field was weakened by two late scratches, including Belmont Oaks second Segestra.

Cinderella’s Dream was 3-10 and ran accordingly. Once again ridden by Buick, Cinderella’s Dream closed from last of five to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

“She’s very much becoming more of a professional filly now,” Appleby told Daily Racing Form. “She’s had her quirks. In England, she wouldn’t be the most forward going into the gates and stuff like that.”

Part of Appleby’s North American-based stable from mid-June, Cinderella’s Dream was scratched from the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in September.

Cinderella’s Dream resumed workouts at Keeneland in early October and did not start again until the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Sent off as the 5-2 favorite in a field of 12 in her first start at 1 3/8 miles, Cinderella’s Dream had an unlucky stretch run under Buick.

Racing on the inside on the turn, Cinderella’s Dream briefly raced in traffic in early stretch and quickened sharply in the final sixteenth to get within a half-length of race winner Moira.

“She looked a touch unlucky not to win, and William had to sit and suffer until she could eventually get going,” Appleby told the press. “They didn’t seem to go much of a pace, but she’s very talented and there’ll be another day with her.”

By Shamardal, Cinderella’s Dream will be campaigned as a 4-year-old in 2025.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.