Rising superstar, I AM ME gave The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes' track record a shake with an explosive sprinting display in the ATC Tree Planting For Queen's Jubilee (1200m) a Benchmark 88 event at Randwick on Saturday.
Our Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained mare put on a real show with a dazzling performance of pure speed to Smash the CLASS RECORD and make it a “hat-trick” of wins this preparation and recording her 6th Win from 11 starts.
I AM ME was ridden by sensational hoop James McDonald, and the Dynamic Duo carried a significant 58.0kgs and stopped the clock at an amazing 1:07.77 which was just outside YES YES YES (53.0kgs) track record of 1:07.32 he recorded winning the 2019 edition of The Everest.
The previous Benchmark 88 Class Record was held by Athiri (52.0kgs) set on 19/9/20 at 1:08.22. So I AM ME obliterated that previous best mark by 0.45 second.
It was the arrogance of the win that is exciting as she trotted over the line under the big weight.
I AM ME ($2.40 fav) beat Dehorned Unicorn ($2.60) by 1.17 lengths with a gap back to Hellfest ($14) in third 3.64 lengths behind I AM ME.
This triumph brought up 800 Race Wins for the team at Dynamic Syndications since our first runner UP ‘N’ DOIN’ won on debut at Rosehill in October 2005.
Black-type options are now on agenda for I AM ME (I Am Invincible) as she landed her third consecutive start with an authoritative performance.
Offered by Segenhoe Stud (As Agent) on behalf of Sheikh M B K Al Maktoum, at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale in 2020, I AM ME was snapped up by Dynamic Syndications /Dean Watt Bloodstock for $210,000.
I AM ME is out of 5-time winning mare Mefnooda (Medaglia D’Oro) and this mare is a half-sister to Group 3 winner One World (Danehill) and she produced seven winners headed by fellow Group 3 winner One Last Dance (Encosta De Lago).
I AM ME had posted two soft 1100m Wins at Rosehill in 1:03.48 and 1:02.93 leading into this event.
Ciaron Maher said post-race: “Tommy Berry always said … that she was Scary and had a little tucked up her sleeve still in those runs. It will be interesting to hear what James says.”
I AM ME had company on pace with Mr Mosaic on her outside, but when JMac asked her for an effort, the daughter of I AM INVINCIBLE quickly dropped the chasers.
She extended away effortlessly to demoralise her rivals including second favourite Dehorned Unicorn, who had a 6.5kgs pull in the weights plus the waiver of the standard 2.0kg sex differential, so that would equal an 8.5kg swing and that gelding was only carrying 51.5kgs against our mare’s 58.0kgs. That equals approximately a 5¾ margin. Such was the demolition job; James had the luxury of only needing to ask I AM ME to focus and extend just once and was able to ease down the final 30m to cross the line in another dominant hands and heels display.
Pre-Race, Sky Channels Greg Radley caught up with and interviewed Ciaron Maher and said: “She’s going really well.”
Ciaron responded: “Yeah very happy with her. She’s progressing through the grades; she was very strong last start. She makes her own luck, fortunately I think she’s drawn the right gate for her today, there is a bit to like about her, I think the race maps pretty well for us.”
Greg Radley: “Okay so she’s still on the upward spiral you think.”
Ciaron added: “Yeah definitely, very much. Yeah, she’s had nice spacings, and she comes here off a two week break this time, but that won’t worry her at all, she had a little piece of work on Tuesday, and seems in good order.”
Next, just before the jump Tom Ryan representing the TAB reported that there was twice the money invested on I AM ME over the second favourite Dehorned Unicorn, and that I AM ME would start TAB favourite at the $2.40 and that they would be risking Dehorned Unicorn.
As the gates crashed back, surprisingly I AM ME was laying back and missed the kick a half-length, which is never a good thing from barrier one.
Then after the first 100m, Mr Mosaic from out wide and Munition had pushed forward to try and cross the field, but JMac was having none of that, as he allowed our girl to roll forward on the paint, under her own steam, to hold out Mr Mosaic from crossing her and then she would be stuck behind a long shot that was only going to be a pest later on.
Passing the 800m Mr Mosaic was a length in the lead with I AM ME its inside, keeping him wide, with a length back to Munitions in the one/one and Wisdom of Water our back. Then another length back to Easifar the fence, Dehorned Unicorn one out / two back, and On The Lead 3 deep, whilst eventual third placed Hellfest one length further back, tracking the paint.
Passing the 600m JMac had allowed I AM ME to slip through to be eyeballing Mr Mosaic just before the field started their swing into the home turn.
There were no moves from back in the ruck as the field of 12 ran the bend and into the top of the straight, passing the 400m marker.
For the first few strides into the straight, Mr Mosaic laid-in and bumped and raced tight with I AM ME as those behind tried to establish their runs.
From the 400m to the 300m JMac sat as cool as a cucumber, whilst all those following were under heavy pressure trying to improve.
At the 250m JMac under hands and heels began to urge along I AM ME, and as soon as JMac pushed that “go button,” I AM ME responded instantly, bounding away with authority putting up a 2-length margin over the pack chasing.
Approaching the 100m, I AM ME was stargazing a bit, looking at the centre field screen and the grandstands to her outside. To make her concentrate, JMac gave her the one and only reminder she needed in the run, and our Dynamic Duo were in such command, that JMac allowed our girl the luxury of easing down the final 30 metres, as JMac sat up in the saddle and they rolled past the finishing post.
James McDonald looking over his left shoulder to see how far he beat them by.
Where are they?
Such was the dominance, the photos show JMac looking over his left shoulder to see what a massive margin the mare had posted on her peers. Had she been pushed out, the Track Record would have been demolished.
I AM ME was simply too good for Dehorned Unicorn and Hellfest
Again, I AM ME lived up to what Tommy Berry had declared last start, that she is so good, she’s “scary.”
There is little doubt that had she been tested in the run and asked to extend, the Track Record would have been smashed.
JOB DONE!
Sky Channels Greg Radley immediately post-race said: “WOW! Well, this track is in fantastic order today, but I AM ME has just recorded 1:07.77 – what did YES YES YES Run? 1:07.32, the fastest 1200m ever at Royal Randwick in an Everest, and they have run 1:07.77. Track manager Michael Wood couldn’t get this track any better, its wind assisted today, but that’s incredible time, and it goes down on her record. 1:07.77 – She’s too good! She’s too good.”
Sky Channels Corey Brown added: “She was too good! She is just explosive.”
Greg Radley: “There was no way in the world MacDonald was ever going to let Mr Mosaic cross.”
Corey Brown: “I thought James was going to try and come back and sit on Mr Mosaics tail, but he couldn’t, and he was never going to let him cross from the 800m, and it was a winning move.”
Greg Radley: “She’s too fast – the time says it.”
Sky Channels Brad Gray then added: “Yeah, she was too good. An uncomplicated ride there from barrier 1, James MacDonald, he used the gate there didn’t he!
“He just kept himself, poking up, poking up, to not let himself be crossed by Mr Mosaic and that was a winning move there at the end. Dehorned Unicorn, he had his chance there peeling off their backs, the market got it pretty much bang-on, there was a nice gap back to third. You can see Super Pursuit rushing home. There is no denying the winner, 1200m absolutely no issue, she smashed the clock and on she marches to bigger and better targets.”
Greg Radley then interviewed co-trainer Ciaron Maher and started by saying: “I was reading a story during the week that this was Dynamic Syndications 800th Winner for that team. So, you have bought it up for them Ciaron, Gee – she is good!”
Ciaron answered: “That is a milestone. They are fantastic supporters of racing, especially our stable here in Sydney.
“Adam and Dean – they’re great! There is a huge group of Owners here and this mare, she has really come into her own this prep, and that’s pretty obvious. The time she ran then, Tommy (Berry) always said the past two where she has won, she’s had a little bit up her sleeve still, so it will be interesting to hear what James says today, but just a mare in form, and that was a nice ratings race.
“She goes into the nineties, we’ll look for a stakes race now, we were sort of toying whether we went to Flemington today for the race down the straight, I said to Adam (Watt), there was a short turn-around , I would rather keep her here, and they had a chat, and it’s a fantastic job by the stable, they have done a super job, and James has taken the reins, and there is no better man.”
Corey Brown then spoke to James McDonald and said: “Good skills JMac. How good is she? I know the wind is assisting a bit, but mate she’s freakish.”
James McDonald (JMac) responded: “She is very good, and she just feels good too. She’s untapped. It just felt like she was floating out in front a little bit, and to be fair they tried to ride against her, and they served it up to her and she stuck to her guns unbelievably, so full credit to her.
“I appreciate the ride from Dynamic, and they have got a very smart one on their hands.”
Corey Brown: “What was the plans, down the back you looked like you were going to take a sit early, but then held the fence.”
JMac: “Yeah I did, they came out quick, and then, they were crawling in front crossing me with a half-length, playing jockeys, and I suppose when you are on a shorty, they can play all they like.”
Greg Radley: “They ran one, two the favourites, with I AM ME getting the job done.”
CIARON MAHER & JAMES McDONALD
Congratulations to our terrific team of Loyal Dynamic Syndications Owners that Own and Race I AM ME: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Sheikh M B K Al Maktoum, Mrs J M Crooks, B & K Ramsey Family, Mr P J Woollett, Mr G Rassos, Mr R J Gall, Mr R G Dawkins, Mr A W Robertson, Mr A Cranes, Mr A Mitchell, Mrs M Joyce, Mr M G Joyce, Mr S B Troughton, Mr D P Lacey, Mr MJ Millner, Mr S Finnigan, Mr A D Vella
Some of our OWNERS celebrate in the Winners Room
I Am Me - Winner 17.12.22 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Career Summary: 11 Starts = 6 Wins: 1 Second: 1 Third; 1 Fourth & Prizemoney: $367,100
Winning Distances: 1000 (1); 1100 (4); 1200 (1)
Here are interesting FACTS:
Did you know there are 222 Different Class Races that have been held over the Royal Randwick 1200m.
Of these 222 Classes, there are only Five (5) current Class Records at ROYAL RANDWICK over 1200m that have broken through and lowered the 1:08.00 marker.
I AM ME became the Fifth (5th) Class Record Holder at Randwick to break 1:08.00.
Only I AM ME is racing - The other 4 horses are all retired.
I AM ME also produced the Softest Win and the Biggest Margin of these 5 Class Records.
They are:
YES YES YES carrying 53.0kgs won the 2019 THE EVEREST in 1:07.32 which currently Stands as both the Course Record and the Open Class Record. He won by a Half Length on 19 October 2019.
SANTA ANNA LANE carrying 58.5kgs ran 1:07.45 in the Premiere Stakes Gr2 (3YO and Up Open Hcp) by a Head on the 29 September 2018. This was the previous Course Record until lowered by YES YES YES.
SNAPDANCER (3YO & Up F&M Benchmark 88) carrying 56.5kg in 1:07.67 on 12 Dec 2020
WINTER BRIDE carrying 58.0kgs won the Wenona Girl Gr3 (4YO Up Mares) in Class Record Time running 1:07.73 winning by a Head on 9 March 2019
I AM ME carrying 58.0kgs won (3YO & Up Benchmark 88) in Class Record Time of 1:07.77 winning by 1.17 lengths unextended on 17 December 2022.
This was a Personal Milestone Win for DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS.
This was our 800th RACE WIN
It was also our 30th RACE WIN for this 2022-23 racing season.
It was our 11th METROPOLITAN WIN for the current season.
WINNING STRIKE RATE = 86.2% (281 Individual Winners / 325 Individual Runners)
PLACED STRIKE RATE = 94.4% (308 Winners & Placegetters / 325 Runners)
PRIZEMONEY EARNERS STRIKE RATE = 97.8% (318 Earned Prizemoney / 325 Runners)
ONWARDS & UPWARDS!