FOLLOWING in the horseshoe prints of Seabiscuit, Dreamer is a life-affirming tale of triumph against incredible adversity on the racetrack.

Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a talented horse trainer who has used his unique talents to line the pockets of greedy men, and to pay the upkeep on his farm. He spends so much time caring for the great animals that he neglects his wife Lily (Elisabeth Shue) and his spirited and fiery young daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning), who just wants to spend more time with her father.

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During a rare day out with Ben, Cale witnesses her father arguing with his boss, Palmer (David Morse), about the fitness of a horse called Sonador - affectionately known as Sonya. Palmer overrules Ben and demands the promising filly make its way to the stalls.

With sickening inevitability, Sonya falls in the final stages of the race, breaking its leg. Ben and his boss clash in the stables; heated words are exchanged and Ben is sacked, taking Sonya as part of his severance pay.

Like his former employer, Ben cannot see any future for Sonya - the injury to the leg cuts short the animal's glittering career on the racetrack. However, Cale sees a spark in the horse's eyes and she sets about bringing together her father and the emotionally scarred steed. In the process, the girl rebuilds bridges between Ben and his estranged father, Pop Crane (Kris Kristofferson).

Aided by groom Balon (Lius Guzman) and exercise jockey Manolin (Freddy Rodriguez), Cale compels her father to chase the seemingly impossible dream of entering Sonador - which means "dreamer" in Spanish - in the Breeder's Cup Classic.

Dreamer is a well-groomed adventure of sporting ambition, inspired by the heartwarming true story of filly Mariah's Storm, which recovered from a fractured left front cannon bone to gallop to glory in three stakes races.

See it at UCI, ABC