Dynamic CHEVAL SAVANT Scores Tough Randwick WIN

08 Dec 24

MAHER – RAWILLER – DYNAMIC!

Our trinity were back in the winner’s circle at headquarters on Friday at Randwick on the Kensington track.

CHEVAL SAVANT heads onto the track as clear favourite

CHEVAL SAVANT on way to the barriers

Our big and strong 5yo gelding CHEVAL SAVANT found a race where he looked well placed, dropping back to a Benchmark 64 grade but was facing two question marks; back 100m in trip, and was given the grandstand carrying 61.5kgs, up 4.0kgs in weight from his last start.

Punters didn’t have the same reservations as connections as CHEVAL SAVANT as he was smashed in betting late, firming from $3.80 to start a clear $2.70 favourite as the gates crashed back.

Over 1900m at Canterbury last start in a Benchmark 72, on the 15th November, he was a certainty beaten when finishing in third spot, just 0.25 length having been locked in a zip tight pocket with nowhere to go down the length of the straight.

Our Ciaron Maher trained gelding showed both character and courage under fire here at headquarters to claim a gutsy and determined win in race 5 the Hyland Race Colours Handicap 1800m 5YO & Upwards Bm 64.

CHEVAL SAVANT wins Race 5

CHEVAL SAVANT (61.5kgs) ($2.70 fav) Nash Rawiller defeated Star Legacy (58.0kgs) ($26.0) Kerrin McEvoy by 0.07 length with Barazin (60.5kgs) ($4.0) 0.35 lengths third.

Track: Good 4 Time: 1:50.62 Last 600m: 0:35.26 = Class Record - 1st $28,400

CHEVAL SAVANT - 5yo Bay Gelding 2019, by SAVABEEL from PASSION CHEVAL

An $80,000 yearling purchase from Yulong Stud at the Inglis Melbourne Yearling Sale.

Career 19 starts = 4:2:3 and $156,375.
Distance Wins: 1800m, 1857m, 2000m, 2100m.
Good: 14:4-2-3 Soft: 3:0-0-0 Heavy: 2:0-0-0.

CHEVAL SAVANT is a horse that shows a dislike for rain affected ground, having had 5 runs on those surfaces for 5 duck eggs.

However, on top of the ground he is a different individual, having started 14 times on a good surface for 4 wins and 5 placings.

At the designated ATC pre-Christmas twilight meeting at headquarters, an excellent crowd was on hand to witness CHEVAL SAVANT and NASH RAWILLER prove that Class Matters.

An inch is as good as a mile!

Nash was going to ensure that bad luck was taken out of the equation, after what our horse suffered at Canterbury and our pre- race tactics suited both Nash and CHEVAL SAVANT which was to allow our genuine staying type to bowl along under the big weight and hold the fence, keeping out of trouble, dictating the speed and tempo. Then up the ante before the home turn and turn it into a genuine staying contest.

Punters read the race as we did, and the money flowed in on the Dynamic galloper.

Typically, when things look so obvious on speed maps, there is always a genuine no-hoper who are long priced, whose connections wish to play hero and upset the race with ridiculous tactics, giving their own horse no chance by riding their horse upside down, just to be a disruptor and spoiling plans of fancied runners. This would prove the case again here in Race 5.

As the gates crashed back, Nash and CHEVAL SAVANT went straight to the front effortlessly and after the first 200m, the Dynamic Duo were a length and a half in front of the field of 9 runners and the tempo was even.

Then eventual runner-up Star Legacy (Kerrin McEvoy) moved forward to sit at our girth and follow us, giving his mount a nice position and peeling off balanced early sectionals in a rhythm as the field sorted itself out behind us.

Then, inexplicably, at the 1400m mark, 20/1 shot Hunter Bred (57.0kgs =a 4.5kg pull in the weights off us), with rider Jenny Duggan “took-off” and must have thought it was a 1000m scamper rather than an 1800m event. Hunter Bred, in its previous 33 run career, had never led in a race, and only twice had it sat handy, yet under hard riding, its rider pushed the handlebars down from the 1400m to the 1200m injecting far too much speed at the wrong part of the race, seemingly just to disrupt the tempo and annoy the favourite, and in the process giving that horse and those who backed it, zero hope of finishing off the race.

Nash is far too experienced for that tactic. He grabbed hold of CHEVAL SAVANT and let the other runner go, believing that it was using far too much gas, and would hit the wall as the field swung for home.

Then at the 1000m marker, the rider of the leader didn’t judge tempo well, slamming the brakes on to compact the field behind. Nash was a wake up to that, and angled CHEVAL SAVANT one off the fence into the running line. He cruised up to sit at the girth of Hunter Bred to ensure he was not stuck in a pocket like last start, ensuring he wasn’t going to be stuck behind what was certain to be a tiring leader.

As soon as Nash placed CHEVAL SAVANT there, Hunter Bred was pushed on again from the 900m to the 700m burning too much energy, too far from home, trying to steal a break on CHEVAL SAVANT.

Nash let it go and kept stalking that speed, but whilst this was happening, it was disrupting the flow and tempo to our own horse, allowing eventual runner-up Star Legacy the ideal drop on us, sitting third with a 3.5 kg pull in the weights and not caught up in the leader’s tactics.

From the 450m at the point of the turn, the field had compacted with only 4 lengths now covering first to last.

Nash bided his time as the field swung for home with now a line of 4 across the track on pace. Hunter Bred burst like a pricked balloon. Star Legacy was now applying the pressure and going with us. The race had changed complexion. It was now a sit and sprint which is never ideal for top-weighted horses, and with an easier run in transit and the 3.5kg pull in the weights, Star Legacy looked like it would prove too strong, whilst the third placed runner was getting into the clear two lengths back.

From the 300m to the winning post it became a two-horse war of attrition. Star Legacy was really digging deep to pressure us out of the lead. But it’s here where class rises in both rider and horse.

Courage came through, and it was a true fight.

To be fair, CHEVAL SAVANT, back in trip and 61.5kgs, should not have had the fitness and speed in his legs to hold out the runner-up but nobody was telling CHEVAL SAVANT that, especially Nash, who was keeping our boy going hard and digging in.

CHEVAL SAVANT manages a smile defeating Star Legacy

Over the final 50m both horses were running on fumes which allowed the third horse to gain some ground, but there was no way that CHEVAL SAVANT and Nash would give up the fight and over the final 20m Nash threw the reins at our horse and lifted him to victory in what was a textbook, pearl of a ride from the outstanding horseman.

Racecaller Darren Flindell’s over the concluding stages:

“It’s Hunter Bred in front from Cheval Savant, Star Legacy rolls up three wide, Tip Top Timing four out, Angel of Light creeping into it, will just need a bit of room, so will Barazin as they turn.”

“Into the straight now and Cheval Savant moves up to Hunter Bred; and Star Legacy moves up on the pair, Cheval Savant and Star Legacy, beating off that leader there Hunter Bred, Barazin next, Angel of Light looking for a bit of room.”

“Cheval Savant in front, from Star Legacy. Nash getting serious on Cheval Savant, from Star Legacy, Barazin on the outside. Cheval Savant clinging on, and I think it won by a nose! Cheval Savant I think a nose there to Star Legacy whose really stuck on grimly, Barazin grabbing third in front of Angel of Light.”

JOB DONE!

The margin was narrow, but the courage was huge and returning to scale Nash was cheered by appreciative owners, connections and punters alike.

Sky Channel's Richard Callendar then commented upon the race: “It was a big go, and you’re going to collect. Prominent on the inside number 2 CHEVAL SAVANT - it was a big go. Started $2.70 on TAB fixed odds. Star Legacy, no surprise a couple of other horses went forward the way the track is playing, it’s just firm here, its hard to make up a lot of ground. 11 Star Legacy was right there and came again right on the line, and Barazin. Number 2 Cheval Savant in front with 61.5kgs, Star Legacy 58.0kgs comes but I don’t think it gets there, Barazin took an eternity to wind up. That will be the numbers 2-11-4 and 6.”

“Liam Ready from the Ciaron Maher stable alongside Melinda Turner.”

Melinda says to Liam: “Well done Liam. He didn’t have the best of luck at Canterbury last start but aided by a beautiful ride today.”

LIAM READY - Ciaron Maher Stable Foreman

Liam said: “Yeah, he certainly needed every bit of Nash there to help him over the line. He was totally unlucky there at Canterbury wasn’t he!”

“He’s been a good horse for Dynamic over the last little while. He’s done a good job in Melbourne as well, but he’s a stayer on the rise and its nice to see him get back to winning.”

Melinda added: “Yeah obviously one of the outsiders crossed Nash in the early stages but he wasn’t going to be kept in a pocket.”

Liam agreed: “Yeah it was a nice smart ride by Nash. Our intention was to be nice and positive, and he used his head a bit there when he got crossed and that gave him a nice bunny to follow into it.”

Melinda added: “I know he was coming back a bit in grade, but a nice effort under the 61.5kgs today.”

Liam answered: “He’s a big strong horse and when he came back in grade, it didn’t worry him overly much.

“He’s a big strong horse, hopefully he can keep that going and step up into Saturday class.”

Melinda finished off: “Enjoy the win.”

NASH & CHEVAL SAVANT returning to the winner's circle

Winners are Grinners !

ADAM WATT from Dynamic gives CHEVAL SAVANT a big "Well Done" pat!

Winning Owners Rick & Irene Balkema and Bill & Noelene Lake with Adam Watt

Richard Callendar added in: “Nash Rawiller has come back to the cheers of the crowd, and even the kids down there on the pony rides, they are down there impersonating Nash on the ponies, all cheering and here he is – the enforcer alongside Melinda.”

Melinda started with: “Well done Nash, a tough effort under a big weight today.”

Nash being interviewed for Sky Channel

Nash answered: “Yeah, he’s finally found the winning post first there. He’s been very deserved of a city win and he’s a genuine type of stayer. Last time I got bottled up a bit on the fence there a bit too long for him, he showed a good turn of foot when the run came, but today, he’s much happier bowling along. He was at his top at the 300m there and he did a great job to stave off the challengers.”

Melinda: “Yeah you could see in the middle stages you were adamant not be held up today, he’s a real momentum horse.”

Nash: “Yeah, I was a little bit frustrated there when the leader (Hunter Bred) kept me honest for 600m then pulled up to a canter, but yeah, I just faith in my horse that a nice genuine gallop he would keep finding something for me.”

Melinda “Well done.”

Adam Watt from Dynamic was there and recorded the post-race report with Nash for our Dynamic Owners.

Adam Watt captures Nash's thoughts for the owners

Adam said: “Thanks Nash. He was tough!”

Nash answered “Yeah – great effort today. I was pretty adamant today to bowl along and stay as close to the fence as I could. I think it is playing an advantage and look, he was very vulnerable there over the last 50 metres, obviously not getting our own way through most of the race. And I loved the way he dug. You know, that was the important thing. He was there to be beat, and he found that head (margin) to hold on, so that’s what it is all about, a bit of ticker.”

Adam finished off with a laugh: “Duck pancakes for you mate!”

Nash will celebrate with a "slap-up" Chinese meal!

Nash responded with a laugh “Yeah – Thank you!”

CHEVAL SAVANT

Congratulations to the Dynamic Ownership Team that race CHEVAL SAVANT: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr S Troughton, Mrs N M Gunn, Mr P Jones, Mrs E Hanna, Two & A Half Pensioners, Mr W J Lake, Mr G Cornell, Mr M C Smith, Mr D J Hughes, Mr KM Dowling, Kenny Win, Mr L A Lindsell, Dynamic no. 136, Dynamic no. 137, Mr M A Wolens, Bimbadeen Racing, Mrs H L Hohn

This was Dynamic Syndications 22nd Race Win for the season and our 912th Race Win overall.

It was also our 19th City Win for the 2024 Calendar Year and 15 of these city wins in 2024 have been trained for us by Australia’s Number 1 Stable CIARON MAHER Racing.

Onwards and Upwards! Forever Forward!