Dynamic Syndications 6yo grey gelding JACK DUGGAN (USA) was seen in the winner’s circle for the 6th time in his 27 start race career to date, as he pulled out a tough and courageous win from the jaws of defeat to claim Race 3, the Group Training Apprentices Provincial Bm64 over 1890m at Newcastle on Saturday.
Ridden by Ash Morgan, it was a win of true grit, and it was only confirmed as the camera flashed when Jack was asked to perform a near miraculous effort to claim victory.
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On a Soft 6 surface, JACK DUGGAN stopped the clock in 1:56.30 with a last 600m in 35.06. JACK DUGGAN defeated GLOBAL ENCOUNTER by 0.1 of a length with CANTRELL 0.52 of a length in third. In a desperate finish, 1.1 lengths covered the first 6 horses across the line in the field of 11 runners.
What was courageous was the fact that JACK DUGGAN gave the field a massive weight pull, which hurts far more over a distance trip. Our galloper was asked to lump 60.5kgs giving 5.0kgs to the runner-up and 1.5kgs to the third placed horse and 8.5kgs to the fourth placed runner. Noting that as a rule of thumb, 1.5kgs equates to a 1 length disadvantage.
Our Tattersalls Horses-In-Training UK purchase, this import arrived here in Australia after having raced 3 times in Ireland for a Win and earnings of $13,203.
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After his latest run, JACK DUGGAN has now won $146,648 with an overall record of: 27 Starts = 6-1-3.
Originally trained for us in the city, he had 6 starts for 6 misses.
We were in a spot of bother knowing he had the ability but just wasn’t performing to his levels he was showing us in trackwork. At that stage, his record was starting to look terrible with 9 Starts for 1 win and no placings.
We had to do something, and we changed environments and sent JACK DUGGAN to our brilliant Newcastle based horseman JASON DEAMER to work out what was going wrong. Jason rides his horses in trackwork and immediately identified several issues that he was able to address.
Since then, under Jason’s horse husbandry and care, Jason has started JACK DUGGAN in 18 races for 5 Wins, 1 second, 3 thirds and 3 fourths and for Jason, JACK DUGGAN has earned $126,075.
JACK DUGGAN is an iron horse and proved it winning this event at his 12th run for the preparation. Importantly, looks as good today as he did to start the prep, and is racing accordingly.
Whilst the weight was a telling factor, so was the head start he was giving his peers at the top of the straight.
JACK DUGGAN is a far better chaser than he is an on pace runner, and his past two events at Canterbury were for a 3rd beaten 1.45 lengths carrying 61.0kgs then last start, our rider rolled to the front, again carrying 61.0kgs and JACK DUGGAN resented leading and locked his jaw onto the bit and over raced in the early parts, setting up too fast a tempo, leaving him out of gas for the final 100m where he weakened to 5th beaten over 5 lengths.
We could have pulled up stumps for the prep there and then, but Jason was convinced he was not over the top, he just needed to be ridden cold and have last crack at the leaders.
We identified two races, The first was back to Canterbury over 1900m or the second was on his home track the following day over 1890m. We looked at both and believed he could win at both events; however Newcastle was kinder on our horse as he only had to walk across the road rather than the float trip to Sydney plus, we had our team rider Ash Morgan available, plus it appeared easier on paper. So, we elected to stay and play at home, and got the chocolates in addition to the $21,000 first prize cheque.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan. We had drawn poorly in barrier 10 of 11 and whilst that should not be a disadvantage in some middle-distance trips, at Newcastle it can be tricky as they jump away on a bend, and you can get trapped wide.
We had asked Ash Morgan to go back from the barrier and we didn’t care if we were last just get cover and allow him to get into a rhythm and present down the outside from the top of the straight and build momentum.
As the field jumped away Ash did as instructed however a couple of other horses also wanted to drift back and into the first turn at the top of the back straight, Ash was trapped 5 deep with nowhere to go covering far too much extra ground. As the field took positions working down the back straight, Ash was stuck 3 deep on Jack at the tail of the field a dozen lengths off the leader.
Ash took his medicine and stayed there, allowing JACK to bowl along. He tried to improve but as he did one underneath him kicked up to keep us 3 wide. From here, we should have had no hope mathematically to win this race, spotting the field weight, being so far back, and being wide without cover.
As the field started their swing down the side from the 900m, Ash wanted to sneak forward a couple of lengths, but other jockeys inexplicably tried to do the same and from the 800m four others started to make their moves. Whilst this cost us ground, it actually played into our favour as the pressure up front turned the race into a true grinding stayers affair.
Passing the 500m and swinging into the top of the home straight, Ash angled out to give our horse clear running but so did a few in front of us, forcing us 5 horses wide into the home straight. We were still 6 lengths away from the leaders and had covered more ground than Burke and Wills.
Ash then balanced our boy to let down out in the middle of the straight and he began reeling in the leader’s from the 300m.
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At the 200m he was up to 6th spot, 3 lengths off the top and working home but those in front were also travelling well. From here it still looked as if the race was gone.
However, Ash and Jack kept fighting away and passing the 100m they were in 4th spot and had whittled the leaders back to a length. Connection’s adrenaline rose, and shouts and cheers echoed, as it looked possible but with what he had done, could they dare to dream?
With a brilliant turn of foot, Jack accelerated and picked up that length and was now in a two-horse war with the eventual runner-up who Jack was giving 5.0kgs in weight and his peer had received an easier run in transit.
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Over the final 50m it was stride for stride and in the shadows of the post, the grit came to the fore, as did the class, and he would not be denied as he strained every muscle and sinew and called upon his courage. He fought to put his nose in front for the first time as the camera flashed.
Job Done!
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JACK DUGGAN had no right to win that race, but nobody told Jack that!
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This was a brilliant bit of training by JASON DEAMER to deliver JACK DUGGAN to the races in such tremendous order and with the desire still in the tank to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
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CONGRATULATIONS to his loyal band of Owners and connections and supporters on his tough win: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr S F Duggan, Barkers Road Racing, Mr P J Woollett, Mr J D Ilott, Mr D A Simpson, Mr D I Hollyman, Mr M J Hill, Mr S D Murray, Mr J N Beddard, Mr S Fairweather, Mr J C Lovegrove
BELOW: Race Replay
Jack Duggan - Winner 17.2.24 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Of his 5 race wins for Jason, this was his fourth Provincial grade win. He won his first race for us at Quirindi, then recorded wins at Gosford, Wyong, Gosford and now Newcastle and has been placed at Canterbury, Hawkesbury (twice), and Taree.
This win by JACK DUGGAN recorded Dynamic Syndications 871st Overall Race Win and our 43rd Race Win for the current racing season.
Onwards and Upwards - Forever Forwards!