The (1) art of placement, (2) a brilliant ride, (3) a horse presented in outstanding condition fit and healthy, and (4) a drier track combined for a wonderful team of Dynamic Syndications Owners to enjoy more racetrack success when our UK Import GREEK HERO scored a wonderful win at Coffs Harbour on Saturday.
This meeting was transferred to Saturday by Racing NSW to take over for the TAB the COVID affected provincial Saturday meeting.
The 2021 SAWTELL RSL – SAWTELL CUP is a Benchmark 85, 1515m event, which was run on a Soft 6 rated track in a field of 14 runners. It was won by our 5yo chestnut gelding
GREEK HERO (GB) (Champs Elysees / Za Za Zoom).
GREEK HERO winning the 2021 SAWTELL CUP at Coffs Harbour
The
SAWTELL CUP is a vital lead-up for the winner because it is a
“ballot exempt” race for the
2021 COFFS HARBOUR CUP worth $150,000 to be run over 1600m on the 5th August.
GREEK HERO won by 0.26 Length over Prima Stella 55.5kg with Nemingah 56kg in 3rd spot, 1.05 Length behind GREEK HERO. They ran a time of 1:32.64 (600m 36.65).
GREEK HERO was well supported in betting, being backed in from
$10/$7.50/$7/$6.50/$6 to start $6.00 second favourite.
We did have
GREEK HERO accepted in a race last Wednesday at the Randwick Kensington track over 1550m where we were to carry 59.0kgs with Hugh Bowman aboard from barrier 7 in a field of 11.
We also held a nomination in the
SAWTELL CUP which looked an even event. Being asked to lump 60.0kgs, was one thing we believed he could do, and we knew we had the best rider in the race with
Christian Reith booked. However, acceptances were at 9.00am Thursday, yet the Randwick race was the day before.
The big consideration was to be the state of the tracks.
GREEK HERO despises wet tracks. He has no confidence on them and won’t stretch out in that type of going. Also, the Kensington track has its own unusual characteristics and can have a wicked bias. Further, it was receiving some further rain. When we looked at the weather data at Coffs Harbour, in the past 14 days in had only received 1.6 mills 9 days earlier, so the best hope for a drying surface was to run at Coffs Harbour.
With the data available we believed that we were in a winnable race, we chose to scratch from the Randwick race and wait for Coffs Harbour.
We were deflated when we were given the visitors draw at acceptance time, coming up with barrier 17 of 18 in a field that included 4 emergencies. That looked a disaster. However, we knew that it was a long run of 600m down the back straight before the first turn, so riders had plenty of time to work across.y
As an insurance policy, we also put in a nomination for next Wednesday back at the Kensington track, in a Bm72 over 1550m where he would get 59.0kgs. The problem with that being that the track conditions were not going to change.
When we analysed the
SAWTELL CUP field, we knew there would be genuine pace in the race with what we considered would be four genuine leaders so they would go hard, which would help those chasing.
When we mapped the race, we believed we would settle 3 or 4 pairs back, and get in, across the face of the field, as we anticipated the race could break into two divisions and there would not be a lot of pressure in mid-field.
Our ratings had marked the race as $7.00 the field, with Greek Hero a $7.50 chance. We had faith in
CHRISTIAN REITH being able to deliver the ride we wanted, and our Trainer
JASON DEAMER was extremely confident that
GREEK HERO was ready to do his best.
So, we chose to race at Coffs Harbour in the
$30,200 SAWTELL RSL - SAWTELL CUP.
“Teamwork makes the dream work” and all factors came together for a tremendous win by
GREEK HERO to arrive in time thanks to the best judged ride by Christian.
It was a tough win, it was a promising win, and it was a vital win, because
GREEK HERO has carried weight to victory at the track, he will go back to next start over 1600m in the
COFFS HARBOUR CUP.
Looking a treat in the parade ring, Christian kept out horse relaxed behind the barriers as the field of 14 loaded up with GREEK HERO jumping from 13 of 14.
As the gates crashed back,
GREEK HERO jumped away brilliantly, settling on pace, so Christian was able to run a straight line for the first 100m. He was caught six deep with five horses between him and the fence.
Passing the 1400m, Christian asked
GREEK HERO to settle and come back underneath him, letting the speed go. He drifted back a couple of lengths and passing the 1300m he worked across but still three deep importantly he had cover. Then passing the 1200m, he drifted back another length, and was able to get in to find himself in 7th spot five lengths off the lead, one of the fence, with cover.
Passing the 1000m and heading into the top turn Christian had
GREEK HERO in the ideal position, relaxed, 7 lengths off the leaders who were carving our quick sectionals.
The field stayed in their running positions until the 650m where the moves started.
As they started to pack up into the home turn, runner-up Prima Stella who had a 4.5 kg pull in the weights and had been tracking us in the run, took off 3 deep making its run. Christian let it go around him and then peeled out to be on its back as the field swung into the home straight. Passing the 400m, Christian had
GREEK HERO three lengths off the leaders, back in 4th position chasing the Prima Stella.
Coming down the centre of the track, he had worked hard under the big weight to reel in the leading three runners to one length as they passed the 200m.
At the 100m,
GREEK HERO carrying 60.0kgs was eyeballing the Prima Stella 55.5kgs, and third placed Nemingah 56.0kgs. Three strides later
GREEK HERO had his nose in front and over the final 50m it was a war of attrition, with Christian riding in wonderful balance. Stride by stride the Dynamic Duo were working hard and truly gained the lead in the final 25m, to record a widening 0.26 length win as our horse’s superior staying ability kicked-in.
CHRISTIAN REITH returns to the Winner's Stall
Christian reported post-race to Samantha Clenton who was representing Jason’s stables: “Things worked out well today, obviously we had an awkward draw, but after we had gone about a furlong, I was able to slot in nicely, 3 back, one off, travelled nicely, it was good when that thing took off early because I was able to get onto its back. He let down good, it was just the weight, he was feeling the weight at the end.”
A Big Thanks to JASON DEAMER and his devoted stables team who work so hard to make these dreams come true for our owners and a big thanks to
Christian Reith for an 11 out of 10 ride.
Greek Hero from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
CONGRATULATIONS to an absolutely Terrific Team of DYNAMIC OWNERS that race GREEK HERO with us: Dynamic Syndications Racing Synd, Mrs A T Woollett, Mr S R Freeman, Mr S B Troughton, Mr A Cranes, Mr G Georgiou, Mr G Tew, Mr L Seminara, Mr M Moullakis, Mr A D Vella, Mrs H Bolton, Mr W R J Gabbert, Mr D F R Yesberg, Ms J D McGuffie
Presentation
GREEK HERO recorded his second win in Australia with this win and has taken his overall career to: 18 Starts: 4 Wins, 1 Second, 2 Thirds, 3 Fourths and $94,609.
This was an important win for DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS as well, as we have achieved our 70th Race Win for this 2020/21 Racing Season.
We are now 2 wins in advance of our previous record season which was 68 Wins we recorded in 2009/10.
Also, this win by GREEK HERO recorded our 724th Race Win overall.
“SAWTELL CUP – WON IT!”