When Yonkers Raceway revived the International Trot in 2015, trainer Richard Westerink supported the $1 million stakes by shipping Timoko across the Atlantic for the first and only time in his career. The recently-retired multi-millionaire was an eight-year-old when he contested the International Trot. The 15-time Group 1 winner raced on the outside for the entire one and one-quarter-mile event.

After having been turned away from the lead by Creatine, driver Björn Goop tried to give Timoko a breather in the opening quarter. However, as Mosaique Face advanced three wide, Goop put Timoko in play again to protect his position. Timoko put Mosaique Face behind him and continued on his first-over grind, as he pressured Creatine through a quarter of :28.4. When Oasis Bi made a wide rally to confront Creatine past the half, Goop let the leaders get away by three lengths. Timoko benefited from the cover for about a quarter-mile before the field angled three wide and entered the backstretch the final time. As he raced into the lane, Goop popped Timoko’s earplus out, and the bay found more. Timoko wore down Creatine, but he couldn’t pass Papagayo E, who saved every inch of ground in the pocket throughout the extended-distance stakes event. For all the extra ground Timoko covered, Papagayo E only beat him by a half-length.

“I think it’s one of the best races of Timoko,” Westerink said. “The horse was fighting and fighting until the end and it was a great race. It was incredible.”

Although Westerink didn’t return to the International Trot with Timoko in 2016 – Timoko’s dual career of racing and breeding made the international voyage too taxing – the trainer will bring Dreammoko, a four-year-old son of Timoko, to compete in the lucrative stakes this year.

“It’s a little bit easier with Dreammoko. He’s not breeding, not yet,” Westerink said. “That’s why I can come with Dreammoko.”

Part of Timoko’s first crop, Dreammoko is already a Group 2 winner, as he won the Prix Phaeton at Vincennes in March. He has earned €305,210 and placed in eight other grouped stakes from 28 races. Despite his success, Westerink wasn’t inspired when Dreammoko came to his stable as a yearling for owner Jan Stins.

“He’s a very lazy horse in the work, more lazy than his father. Timoko, in the beginning was also like that. This one is even more lazy in the works,” Westerink said. “This horse, in the beginning, I said ‘he’s not a very good horse,’ but when we pull the shoes, he’s better. In the beginning, he was not a very good horse for me. This year, we can take off the shoes and that transformed the horse.”

Dreammoko finished second on debut in January 2015 and won his next start, both with shoes. After a barefoot win in his third start at Vincennes, Dreammoko went two for his next 11 racing with shoes. Westerink pulled Dreammoko’s shoes in his 15th start (on January 24, 2017) and the chestnut recovered from a brief break behind the gate to win the €65,000 overnight by five and a half lengths in a lifetime best clocking. All of Dreammoko’s stakes performances since have come without shoes.

Dreammoko, pictured victorious overseas (Image courtesy Gerard Forni)

One of the highlights of Dreammoko’s career thus far came in the Kymi Grand Prix at Kouvola on June 17. Dreammoko raced against his sire, Timoko, in the €165,000 stakes. Although many were critical of Westerink’s decision to pit Dreammoko against Timoko, the trainer enjoyed the unique opportunity.

“It was fun for me. There was a lot of critique in the world. ‘How can you race a son against his father,’” Westerink said. “I think that made it more of a challenge for me. I love to take challenges and I think it was a good challenge. The horses were racing well, both of them.”

Timoko entered the Kymi Grand Prix off a victory in the Group 1 Elitloppet Final at Solvalla May 28. Dreammoko came in off a third in the Tommy Hannes Lopp at Solvalla the same day. Timoko started from Post 3 in the Kymi Grand Prix and Dreammoko, Post 9 in the second tier.

Just before the start, Dreammoko shied away from the horse in front of him. After raising his head high and taking a few awkward steps, Dreammoko began in last 12 lengths behind. Meanwhile, Timoko raced to the lead. Hounded by Seabiscuit to his outside and Buzz Mearas to his inside, Timoko trotted through a blistering opening quarter in :26.4.

While Timoko blazed a trail up front, Dreammoko raced into the flow fourth-over. While tacing around the final turn, Timoko tried to fight off Carabinieri, who challenged on the outside. Meanwhile, driver Gabi Gelormini guided Dreammoko three-wide and he advanced within six lengths of his sire.

Although Timoko battled down the stretch, he could not withstand Carabinieri’s fresh legs. Timoko finished second beaten one length, while Dreammoko stormed down the centre of the track to finish third, two and a half lengths behind his sire.

“Dreammoko, he made a little mistake behind the gate,” Westerink said. “He lost 10 or 12 metres and in the last turn, he was coming on the outside. It was a great race. (Dreammoko) was speeding faster in the end, but he’s not a better horse than Timoko, I don’t say that.”

Since his bout with Timoko, Dreammoko has twice finished second to rival and top four-year-old Django Riff. Dreammoko was beaten first in the Prix de Milan at Enghien on July 29 and again in the Prix de Geneve at the same track on August 16. In his most recent start, Dreammoko finished third to Diablo Du Noyer and Django Riff in the Group 2 Prix Jules Thibault at Vincennes on August 31.

“He raced the last three times with Django Riff, the best horse of his age I think and he’s fighting, fighting, fighting,” Westerink said. “I think once he will beat him. Almost in Enghien in the last race, he almost beat him on the outside, Django Riff in the lead and (Dreammoko) on the outside. He lost by a head. He’s a tough racer, like his father. I think he’s a great horse.”

Westerink plans to race Dreammoko one more time in Europe before shipping to Yonkers for the International Trot on October 14. Dreammoko will head to Bologna, Italy to compete in the Group 1 Gran Premio Continentale on September 17. Dreammoko will start from Post 4 in the €209,000 stakes for four-year-olds.

“He’ll race once, next week in Bologna in Italy. He has number four,” Westerink said. “That’s a Group 1 race in Italy, a big race. We have a little chance, maybe we can win there. That would be nice, to win one before Yonkers.”

Dreammoko’s start in Italy will be his first on a half-mile track, the same size oval he will find when he arrives in New York later this fall. Since many of Dreammoko’s best races have come on the lead, Westerink expects the 800-metre track to suit his International hopeful.

“For him, it’s not a problem. I think it’s better for him,” Westerink said. “We can take the lead and it’s a little track, he can take the lead. He can come behind, but I think when we have the lead, it’s good for him.”

More International Trot invitees will be featured as they are confirmed for the race. The $1 million Yonkers International Trot will be raced on Saturday, October 14 at Yonkers Raceway.

(SOANY)