As the camera flashed, Dynamic Syndications “ALL LADIES” owned 3yo gelding HARD TO SAY (by EXCEED AND EXCEL from MALASUN) recorded his first victory on Saturday when claiming Race 6, the CENTRAL COAST UNITY BANK Midway Maiden Plate over the 1000m speed course at Wyong.
HARD TO SAY wins his maiden at Wyong
First-up from a spell, our JASON DEAMER trained gelding HARD TO SAY stopped the clock in a lightning quick 0:56.78 with a last 600m of 33.42 secs.
TRAINER JASON DEAMER in the Winner's Stall with HARD TO SAY
The time of 56.78 set a “NEW CLASS RECORD” and was just 0.04 sec outside the open maiden record and held up to be faster than most standing class records for almost all classes at the track over the 1000m trip.
Underdone with still plenty of fitness to come, Jason had done a fantastic job getting HARD TO SAY to the start with enough fitness to claim victory. This was a marvellous result for our Dynamic Ladies who own and race HARD TO SAY.
The gelding had been nominated for various races, but the key was the track surface as he has previously shown a dislike to rain affected ground. We also had him in at Hawkesbury two days earlier, but it was a toss of the coin between the 1000m trip of Wyong and the 1100m trip of Hawkesbury.
Ultimately, we chose the right way, heading to the 1000m scamper which was offering slightly more in winning prizemoney.
Not everything went to plan, as we had drawn softly at Hawkesbury in barrier 3 and looked to have a soft lead there. Next we would have to scratch at 7:30am from Hawkesbury before acceptances at 9:00am at Wyong and we were concerned we might draw wide which would be a distinct disadvantage from that start point.
We chose to go to Wyong but we were deflated when the acceptances came out and our fears were realised as we had drawn barrier 11 of 12, with what we considered to be our only dangers and ultimate runner-up and third placed horses drawing barriers 4 and 1 respectively in a race that looked on our speed map would be run at breakneck speed.
Also added to this predicament, the track was showing a bias towards leaders on the day, so there was more urgency than normal to be in the leading group.
Jet pilot Andrew Adkins was given simple instructions and the only instructions we could offer from the awkward draw. They were “handlebars down, lead and improve on your position.”
That’s how Andrew rode HARD TO SAY and that gave our Lady Owners a Well-Deserved WIN.
However, racing's a game of mathematics as much as anything else and the harder you run early, the more petrol you use, and you are running on fumes at the business end.
Sent to the post a $1.60 favourite, and with 10 horses between HARD TO SAY and the fence, it was always going to be made that much more difficult as the tactics of the others was always going to push up and leave us trapped wide.
On paper the speed map suggested that they would run this event at an incredibly fast tempo, and HARD TO SAY would need to work hard to cross to the fence. We knew we were setting a hard assignment for our boy first-up from a long break but believed his class and ability would prevail which it did.
JASON DEAMER was confident he had our horse as fit as possible for his first up assignment with significant upside to come but was worried about the early attacks his peers may apply.
As the gates crashed back the field was off to a perfect dispatch, and HARD TO SAY was a neck in front of the pack.
It appears the rider of long priced Ever Was had been given the same set of tactics from barrier 5, as he dashed up to eyeball us in a field that 2 lengths covered first to last after they had run 150m.
After 200m the others couldn’t keep with HARD TO SAY but they were seriously trying, as runner-up Terra Mater drove forward and Oakfield Blue Bell pushed up along the fence and Charity Joy pushed up 3 deep.
We were trapped deep at this stage because Andrew didn’t have the 2 lengths break he needed under the Rules of Racing to cross the field to the fence.
Then as Charity Joy started to yield, Oakfield Blue Bell took its turn to attack our boy, driving up to be at our girth on the inside as the field swung down the side. Terra Mata took an ease and slotted in 2 lengths back as the attacks were being applied on HARD TO SAY.
Passing the 650m it was here that HARD TO SAY had finally burnt off those chasing, but he had done so much work first-up, he was all in as he raced to the 600m mark. The speed was such that over the first 400m HARD TO SAY had spread the field out over 18 lengths.
Coming into the home turn HARD TO SAY was on the fence and Oakfield Blue Bell angled off behind us just one length behind whilst Terra Mater who had the ideal run in transit, stuck to the fence saving ground and moving up on the paint as they balanced for the run to the flash point.
Passing the 200m HARD TO SAY was a two-length leader but was out of gas due to the hard run.
Terra Mater with a 2.0kg pull in the weights and the softer run gave chase as HARD TO SAY started to run out of legs due to lactic acid build-up.
Andrew Adkins realised he was stopping and rode HARD TO SAY as strongly as he could as the post was getting closer and so was the chaser, as all other runners were well beaten and out of contention.
HARD TO SAY was flying to the post
The final 5 strides were agonising to watch as the leader’s Head started to come up and the chaser was driving out wide.
In a driving finish, the polish Jason had applied too HARD TO SAY was sufficient to see him fight hard and fended off Terra Mater by a nose with 3.52 lengths back to Oakfield Blue Bell 3.52 lengths away in third spot and 11.63 lengths covered the field.
JOB DONE.
Andrew Adkins rode him a treat and Jason Deamer had him in excellent order to achieve victory for his Lady Owners.
It was a tight but significant win by HARD TO SAY.
Beat Ya ! HARD TO SAY proved too HARD TO BEAT
His early 2yo form was terrific. He had run fourth on debut in the BREEDERS PLATE Gr3, he ran second in the Listed PHELAN READY Stakes to Palazzo Spirit beaten a neck and a 3rd in an Open Company 3yo race at Eagle Farm.
To be still a Maiden was unfair to horse and owners, but he got the job done here at Wyong in one of the toughest displays we have witnessed in a long time. He led from start to finish, and smashed the clock, giving weight and fitness away.
Weights and Measures support what a terrific effort it was by HARD TO SAY.
RETURNING TO SCALE
CONGRATULATIONS to our terrific team of Dynamic Ladies that own and race HARD TO SAY: Dynamic Ladies, Mrs C Freeman, Mrs A T Woollett, Mrs B A Reid, Mrs K Corby, Mrs H Corby
Hard To Say from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Returning To The WINNER'S STALL
WELL DONE HARD TO SAY !
This was Dynamic Syndications 15th Race Win for the Season and our 785th Race Win overall.
HARD TO SAY was the second of three winners on the day for our team. We had won earlier in the day with the Annabel Neasham trained JOHNNY DASH, and then HARD TO SAY trained by Jason Deamer sizzled before we went to town and smashing the class record with I AM ME at Rosehill with Ciaron Maher.
ONWARDS and UPWARDS!