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By Ray Hickson

It’s not often you see a horse gelded after they’ve turned four but trainer John Thompson is hoping that decision pays off with talented galloper Dreamforce.

The five-year-old has his first start as a gelding in the Show Some Betiquette Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Thompson described the horse as a thinker and, because of that, said he’d been campaigning for a while to give him what most people regard as the most significant gear change.

“It took me a little while to get it over the line with the owners but they eventually made the call and I think he is better for it,’’ Thompson said.

“He was a big colt who was a bit of a thinker and I think that showed last prep.’’

Dreamforce's latest trial at Randwick - October 31

Dreamforce won three of his first five starts but was winless in five runs into the early winter, beaten as favourite in the last three.

Thompson believes the gelding has made a difference to Dreamforce though warns the 1300m is probably not his pet trip.

That said, he was beaten narrowly by Vigilance when resuming at 1200m back in March and has shown more than enough in two trials.

“He wasn’t out to have a gutbuster last time and Brenton (Avdulla) said he felt good and went to the line nicely,’’ Thompson said.

“I’d expect him to run a place at least, he’s well placed. He runs well first-up and we’ll be positive out.

“The distance might be a bit short of his best but he is nice and fresh and he will run well.’’

Apprentice Blaike McDougall, who has ridden Dreamforce to victory previously, takes 3kg off.

Dreamforce will race in blinkers and Thompson decided to add the shades to Last Wish in an attempt to turn the tables on Karavali in the Tab.com.au Handicap (2400m).

Last Wish finished 6.3 lengths behind Karavali over the 2000m at Randwick at his third run from a spell and meets that horse 3.5kg better after McDougall’s claim.

“He raced in them last prep and I always take them off at the beginning,’’ Thompson said.

Trainer John Thompson has a strong hand at Rosehill. (Pic: bradleyphotos.com.au)

“He got a lot further back than I would have liked the other day so we put the blinkers on and hope he can be a bit closer at 2400m.

“He’s definitely a firm track horse and the 2400m favours him.’’

Lightly raced mare Blowing Kisses continued her solid fresh form with a closing second when resuming at Warwick Farm and the pressure is on for her to perform second-up in the Cellarbrations Handicap (1100m).

The Punters Intel data showed her last 600m was run in a slick 33.39, the second fastest of her 1000m race on that day.

She’ll meet the boom Newcastle sprinter Bon Amis and while Thompson has a healthy respect for the unbeaten rival he’d like to think his mare could win the same races just as easily.

“I know her second-up form isn’t great but she ran in a stakes race one time,’’ he said.

“She ran very well first-up and has come on since. The favourite will be hard to beat, he obviously looks like he goes okay.’’

Of his other Rosehill runner, Makeadane, Thompson is prepared to forgive his failure at Canterbury given a good track on Saturday.

And he’s taking Loveletter and Cuba to Newcastle this weekend hoping to take home the first two races.

He regards Cuba, a last start Warwick Farm winner, as his best winning chance of the weekend in the Newcastle Stevedores Handicap (1400m).

“I wanted to place them to win, especially the colt to get a bit of a roll on with him,’’ he said.

“It’s not a big field and he comes in well at the weights with (Nick Heywood’s) claim. You’d like to think he can keep winning.’’

Check out the fields,
form and replays for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday