3 in a ROW as Dynamic Stayer NAVAL COMMISSION Strikes Again

06 Jun 24

Our CIARON MAHER trained staying prospect NAVAL COMMISSION has made it 3 WINS in a ROW, coming off a Randwick-Kensington win over 1800m last time out when ridden by NASH RAWILLER, our Dynamic Duo were again back in the winner’s circle on Wednesday as they proved far too strong for their peers over 2200m at Warwick Farm.

In a masterclass of horsemanship, NASH could have been mistaken for wearing a balaclava, as he stole the race from his competitors with a brilliantly judged ride.

Nash was originally thinking of settling mid-field with cover in this event but wet track stats at Warwick Farm show there is a significant bias to leaders over this trip that have a turn of foot with over 33% of race winners winning in this racing style.

In addition, we wanted to take the second favourite Funambulist out of its comfort zone to have to chase us on the heavy ground.

So Nash understood the requirements and posted the perfect text book ride.

Leading throughout, Nash was peeling off extremely slow mid-race sectional splits and turned the race into a sit and sprint affair.

That took his fellow competitors out of their comfort zones, whilst Nash was ambling along on the bit, clocking splits of 13.85 secs, 14.16 secs, 14.33 secs and 13.66 secs. That is so slow that you can clock it with an alarm clock rather than a stopwatch!

Nash had stacked up his opponents beautifully and when he let the brakes off on the point of the turn, NAVAL COMMISSION who has a good turn of foot for a stayer, was able to put a two-length gap into his opposition at the top of the straight.

That proved the difference as our Dynamic Duo wound down and coasted to the post to win with ease to pick up $39,650 being the $28,400 first prize plus a $11,250 BOBS Extra bonus prizemoney.

NAVAL COMMISSION won Race 5 – the JAMES SQUIRE Handicap Bm72 2200m.

NAVAL COMMISSION (59.0kgs) ($2.40) defeated FUNAMBULIST (59.0kgs) ($3.60) by 1.06 lengths with MARSABIT (56.5kgs) ($12) 2.72 lengths away in third.

Despite being very much a work in progress between the ears, NAVAL COMMISSION is building a nice resume as he has been picking off the low hanging fruit as he gets out in distance, and learns his racecraft. It appears now he is a promising stayer in the making.

That was NAVAL COMMISSION’s 12th Race Start: 5 Wins: 2 Seconds: 3 Thirds & $150,925 which includes $33,750 in BOBS Bonus prizemoney.

By MERCHANT NAVY (a son of FASTNET ROCK) ex PARFAITS (Strategic) our 4yo gelding is a half-brother to Gr1 Queensland Derby and LR Sale Cup Winner; Andrew Ramsden LR & Ballarat Cup LR runner-up – SONNTAG.

NAVAL COMMISSION can handle all surfaces having won from Good to Heavy surfaces, but really loves it wet, so the more it rains the happier he is which is a handy trait for a stayer during winter months. Also we know he is showing us that he will be happier the further they go so 2400m races certainly appeal at this point.

Post-Race Sky Channel’s Brad Gray summarised the race:

“The $2.40 favourite held off the plunge horse Funambulist (IRE) and Marsabit (IRE) into third. Peeling off mid race sectional splits of 13.85, 14.16 14.33, 13.66 Nash just held him together for as long as possible before unleashing a sprint into the straight, and whilst he had a wall of horses creep up to him just before the straight, Nash rode with plenty of confidence and he had enough there in the tank to hold off Funambulist who stuck on well, but NAVAL COMMISSION looks to be a stayer going places, and we don’t believe we have seen the best of him yet.”

“Aussie Joh” - Sydney Assistant Trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord was interviewed by Sky Channel post-race and the interviewer said: “That was a nice ride from Nash, and the horse is certainly going in the right direction.”

Joh said: “Yeah, it was a nice ride, once he could find the lead - just control. He loves the wet this horse, and distance was no issue, he’s very fit, so once he got there (lead), and had an easy time in front, he was always going to be hard to catch.”

Next Joh was asked “Do you know if Ciaron has anything in mind for him going forward?”

Joh answered: “No - there is another option next week if we want to back him up, but he’s a bit better than midweek class, and it’s the right time of the year with wet tracks, so there is good prizemoney to be won in town, but he’s a horse still on the way up, and the good thing about this horse, you just never know when they are going to stop improving, but its been great to get another winner for Dynamic Syndications, they have been very patient with that horse, and obviously they are getting rewarded now.”

Joh was then asked: “Is he a busy horse at home that takes a bit of work or once he gets to his peak, he is able to maintain it?”

Joh responded: “We don’t have to do too much with him in between runs, but we can’t do nothing with him, because he’s very pushy, and we need to keep that freshness out of him, but it just about picking off easy races, and he’s full of confidence and he’s enjoying his racing.”

Brad Gray from Sky then interviewed Nash Rawiller: “Nash you can see there, even in the tie-up stalls, he’s got a mind of his own but obviously, he’s a very promising stayer going forward.”

Nash responded: “Yeah I think so, he’s just one of those sort of horses that well, he likes competition.

“It was Adam’s view (Adam Watt – Dynamic Syndications) more than mine that he wanted to lead today which was a masterplan, because when he got there and pricked his ears, everytime one came at him, he found again and it just took away any bad luck with his mental immaturity, to find trouble out of the equation. We all got to see what he is capable of doing. He’s the type of horse that always feels he’s got an extra three lengths there so, he’s definitely a Saturday class horse in the future, he’s just going to take time for the penny to drop. Cheers.”

This WIN by NAVAL COMMISSION also recorded another important milestone for the CIARON MAHER Team in Sydney.

Congratulations to the stable as this was their 100th RACE WIN for the in NSW for the current 2023-224 Season and was also their 50th Metropolitan Race Win which sees the team sitting in third spot in the Sydney Premiership.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Dynamic Ownership Team that Own and Race NAVAL COMMISSION: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr P J Woollett, Mr J W Sutherland, Mr A S Taylor, Mr D M Badger, Ms J E Mors, Team 2750, Mr G S J England, Gallop Schnell, Mr J Johnson, Mr A Holbeck, P R M F Racing, Mr J R Gilmore, Mr J J Davis, Ms DM Goodwin, Mrs T E Parish, Mr A M Parish, Mr A Torino, Dynamic No 144