Dream
Alliance was like a Welsh Seabiscuit, but he hailed from humbler stables. Some
might infer as much from his national identity, but even by Welsh standards, Cefn
Fforest (with two f’s) is a persistently depressed community. Yet, somehow a
barmaid with the help of her customers and neighbors managed to breed a seriously
contending thoroughbred. Louise Osmond chronicles the career of Dream Alliance
and the boosters that supported him in Dark
Horse (trailer
here),
which opens this Friday in New York.
The
first time tax accountant Howard Davies dabbled in “the sport of kings” it
nearly bankrupted him. However, the experience had not cured him of the
horse-racing itch, leaving him more than predisposed to say yes when approached
by Jan Vokes. The former dog breeder was determined to try her hand at
thoroughbreds as a sort of challenge, but the training and stud fees were
nearly prohibitive. Instead of shouldering all the costs themselves, Vokes and Davies
formed a consortium, through which members (primarily drawn from her pub
clientele) contributed ten pounds a week to fund the horse they named Dream
Alliance.
There
was still no way they could buy their way into a prestigious bloodline, but
they did find a mare with a reputation for being fiery, which would serve Dream
Alliance well. Indeed, he turned out to be reasonably competitive in his early
races, notching third or fourth place finishes, but he was still racing well
off the establishment’s radar. Then he entered the Perth Gold Cup, one of Wales’
highest profile races—and everything changed.
It
is not hard to see why Dream Alliance’s story grabbed Osmond. He has more
career reversals than Rocky Balboa. Things go up, down, and sideways for the
blue collar thoroughbred. Yet, at every step of the way, the Syndicate (as they
called themselves) kept faith with Dream Alliance, identifying with him as a
fellow underdog.
Dark Horse also has a
working class-triumph over adversity angle, much like a fully clothed Full Monty. Osmond takes her time,
introducing us round the Syndicate, which gives the film a real life Cheers vibe. (One patron looks like he
could pass for Moe’s Tavern regular Barney Gumble on The Simpsons, but he still gives the film some genuine character.)
