AFTER six agonising attempts, one off-the-board finish, three heartbreaking placings, and two near-misses that had his connections pulling their hair out, I Dream Again is ready to obilterate the Overnight Allowance door at Caymanas Park today.

The $1.25-million burn-up over five furlongs (1,000m) round is made for him. And at cherry-ripe fitness the 2025 Jamaica Derby and St Leger hero is tipped to finally reward his army of fans who have followed him through thick and thin.

Last time out on August 29, in the O&S Tack Room Trophy, I Dream Again was a runaway freight train. He blasted out of the gates like a cannonball on fire, scorched the turf, set suicidal splits, and only in the shadow of the wire did his legs finally cry enough, finishing third — just a length and a half behind Whizz Kidd and Cookie Day N Night.

That race was over a mile (1,600m) and today is just the minimum trip on the round course — a sprint, a dash, and a pure test of raw speed. Trainer Jason DaCosta knows exactly what he has. With blinding early pace in those legs, I Dream Again is expected to ping the gates, clear his rivals in three strides, and never look back.

Around that tight round bend they won’t catch him, but he won’t have it all his own way — his own stable is coming for him.

Formalist is a speed demon himself. Two runs at this level, two sixth places, but he has the gate speed to go toe to toe with I Dream Again early. If they attack each other up front it sets it up perfectly for the closers.

Starraura is the quiet assassin of the trio. He was third behind Commander Z and I Dream Again on August 8 over five and a half furlongs (1,100m). He loves to sit just off the hot pace and then pounce.

The contest is positioned as the eighth event on the nine-race card with a post time of 4:55 pm, but the first race is at noon.

Looking beyond the big three, Danka could be the one to spoil the DaCosta party. She is the only filly with the pace to stay in touch early, and she owns a wicked turn of foot in deep stretch.

If the big guns go too hard too fast up front, watch for Danka — she will be the one flying late down the outside, coming for all the glory in the final 100 metres.

It has all the makings of a thriller — blistering early speed, a pace war, and a filly with a late kick. But on Derby class, on St Leger heart, on pure guts — it’s still I Dream Again’s time to shine.

Ones to watch

Race 1)
Pineapple/Solace/Bushfire

Race 2)
Alaeddin/Time and Patience/Hoofy Dee

Race 3)
I’m Outstanding/Modern Monarch/Mineola

Race 4)
Rejected Raja/Laban/Big Big Daddy

Race 5)
King Kid/Pickleball/Behave

Race 6)
Drone Strike/Nuttin But Trouble

Race 7)
Minnehaha/Pippa/Imaginearium

Race 8)
I Dream Again/Starraura/Danka

Race 9)
Shoamithebutcher/Great trick/Kissmet