Congratulations to the
Dynamic Co-Ownership Team of our
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained 3yo brown gelding
GROOVER (Lonhro ex Into The Groove) who was facing the starter for the first time.
It was a 1200m Maiden Handicap at Kembla Grange on Tuesday afternoon.
Thanks to the
astute training of Gai and Adrian, and an
outstanding ride by our go to jockey
Christian Reith, the
Dynamic Duo combined to claim
Race 3, the
Canadian Club Maiden Handicap, on a Good 4.
GROOVER ran a slick time of
1:10.75 with a last 600m in
34.60 starting at $3.20.
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GROOVER Wins the Canadian Club Maiden Hcp 1200m
GROOVER picked up $22,365 for the win.
The Margin was tight with
a nose separating
GROOVER (
Lonhro) and
SHAY (Written Tycoon) with a
half-length back to
I AM GERONIMO (I Am Invincible) in third spot.
Tactically we wanted to lead and dictate with our first starter.
Christian bounced
GROOVER out of the machines, and after 50m sprinted to the front to claim the lead on the fence.
The runner-up Shay (Winona Costin) came up to annoy our runner by sitting a neck back at our girth, as Christian kept count of the sectionals he was peeling off.
They ran their first split from a standing start in 14.01 secs, then from the 1200m to the 1000m they ran a slick 10.83 which had the field spread over 8 lengths.
Then the next 800m to 600m
GROOVER peeled off another fast split for this class of 11.01.
From the 600m to the 400m they ran 11.35 as Christian, on the point of the home turn believed he had a lap full of horse under his saddle, so tried to drop the field by letting the brakes off as they swung into the straight.
Shay would not be denied and went with
GROOVER as they passed the 400m marker.
Christian pushed the go button at the 250m and dashed 2 lengths in front and this dash would be the move that eventually wins the race, as he pulled 2 lengths ahead as they passed the final furlong mark having run a 11.35 split.
It’s here Christian earnt his riding fee, as our inexperienced galloper was running into a blustery headwind and was starting to star gaze and look around at the infield screen, grandstand to his outside, and the upcoming
“very scary” winning post.
With blinkers on and not being able to see his peers, our inexperienced runner had switched off as he started to think it was a big game and his job was done.
The track at Kembla has favoured swoopers down the outside all day, and we had been leading against the paint.
GROOVER would not be denied
Having set up a fast tempo, and carrying 57.5kgs which was top weight, those who were chasing were coming home fast down the centre part of the track, which was clearly better going.
Shay only had 55.0kgs which was a 2.5kgs pull in the weights and I Am Geronimo carried 56.0kgs getting a 1.5kgs pull in the weights. They both had race experience and fitness in their favour.
At the 50m mark,
GROOVER ducked out sharply in fright from the upcoming winning post and Christian had to stop riding and straighten our horse and then re-balance for a drive to the line.
This loss of momentum allowed those chasing with their weight advantage and better racing surface to get close, but the strength of
Christian Reith and the
“bone and muscle” training of Gai and Adrian kicked in and
GROOVER stuck his head down where it mattered and had his nose in front when the camera flashed as
GROOVER peeled off a final split of 12.33 secs.
As anxious moments passed for excited owners as the photo sign when up on the semaphore board, shortly after the winner’s number was displayed and
GROOVER had won.
GROOVER returns to the Winner's Circle
Trainer Adrian Bott said: “That’s a great effort from GROOVER on debut. Obviously, we saw in his trials, he’s still doing a few things wrong, that’s why the blinkers went on today, and that certainly helped for the early part of the race. He was straight on the bit and travelled well throughout for Christian. I liked the way he quickened into the run. He had a bit of pressure applied throughout (Shay) and whether that got him a little tired late first-up or that was because he was on the inside of the track racing by himself, and he was starting to get a bit lost again, either way, he’s done well to pick himself up and win the race. It was a good effort and no doubt he will improve a lot off that, just naturally with the fitness, and I do think he will get over a little bit further as well, so I will be interested to hear Christian’s feedback from today, and we will pick a plan from there.”
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CHRISTIAN REITH is Dynamic
Christian Reith spoke to connections post-race saying: “He went really good today. He’s got a lot of improvement (to come), he’s very raw. He should have bolted-in but was too busy looking, gawking at everything down the running. He gave me a good feeling, I had plenty there, he gave me a feel that he might be better taking a sit and have something to follow, because he is a really nice moving horse. He gave me a good feel, and the more he races, the better in the mind set of what he needs to do; but it was a good start to his career.”
CONGRATULATIONS to the Ownership Team of GROOVER: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr P R Rennie, Lovely Jubbly Synd, Mr J Cordoma, Mr G R Weedon, Mrs C J Gunn, Mr B Gunn, Robheal Synd, Mr N Potts, Mrs Y Pollock, Mr K Hyde, Mrs A Whiley, Mr S J McGee, Mr R Bale, Mr J Yianni, Ingrey Family Synd, Dynamic no 116 Synd.
GROOVER looked a treat in his pre-race parade
This was Dynamic Syndications 742nd Overall Race Win, our 16th Race Win for this 2021-22- Racing Season and GROOVER became our 261st Individual Winner from 311 Individual Runners (83.93%).
Onwards and Upwards!