It is always exciting when a horse heads to the races for the first time. Emotions are a cocktail of anticipation, participation, passion, excitement and intrepidation. Dreams are high, expectations are reserved. Adrenalin is pumping, palms are sweating.
Your trainer tells you he is happy with your horse, it has shown him it can gallop along nicely but your pride and joy is still very green (inexperienced), it wants more distance but this is just a starting point to learn how to become a racehorse - upon the start of its new career path. This is just a sprint distance. You need to build foundation fitness. However whatever it does today, it will improve upon. The trainer is confident he has the raw building blocks but he is hopeful rather than expectant. However he is confident the horse will not embarrass anyone and expects to see him hit the line nicely but ..... there is an odds on favourite in the race who on debut was a runner-up in a Stakes race. Whilst the vibe coming from the stable is a mixed, the owners are told to keep the faith.
Medvedev at Moody's stables prior to the race
Then your racing manager tells you that your horse has a pedigree specifically proven to run over 1600m - 2000m. Kicking off over 1300m is in "no-mans land" and like the trainer, on the evidence seen to date and the quality of the field, we would all be happy to see the horse hit the line but whatever it does, with experience, further fitness and specifically with foundations laid and then extra ground, we can expect to see a better showing. Keep the faith, live the dream and keep expectations in check, whatever happens your horse will improve.
Your trainer has a little trick up his sleeve. On debut he is going to put "winkers" on your horse to help it concentrate and focus on what is in front of it, not what's going on behind it. Riders instructions are simple enough, push forward and be in a prominent position where the horse is comfortable - with a horse to follow in transit and then let him bowl along in a rhythm and help him around the home turn, then when balanced up, let him extend and chase.
Imagine the excitement and the rush of adrenalin when your horse jumps away in a big field and incredibly, he shows terrific gate speed and after 100m, your horse settled down in second position, tracking the leader who happens to be the $1.50 favourite. Your horse gets in a rhythm and is traveling nicely. Your palms are sweating and your heart is thumping through your chest. At the 800m mark your still sitting 2nd, another furlong passes and at the 600m your still there. Your heading into the home turn, your horse wobbles a bit as it gets on the wrong leg but balances well at the top of the straight. The favourite is traveling smoothly and it's rider looks to have a lapful of horse. You dare to dream, can you hang on and run a place? Will your horse fade? Can he possible extend and challenge the leader and at least make a race out of it?
Medvedev shows he has got the goods
You’re at the 300m and far from fading, he is showing his genetic strength and starting to run on. Your hairs on your neck rise, he is a little wayward, he wants to go faster, his legs are all over the place through inexperience, he is eyeballing the leader at the 250m ..... OMG !
The favourite rallies on the inside and sprints and draws the best part of a length lead, there goes the winner but what is coming from behind to runs us down? Nothing! Then the unthinkable, your horse keeps coming, he is going through his gears, the 150m mark is passed and your balanced up. Your horse is in a rhythm, he is hitting the line as we all expected. Then at the 100m the favourite is going up and down in the one spot and your horse is closing fast. Your at the 50m mark your 1/2 a length off the leader. Fantastic your adrenalin is running wild and your heart is thumping, your shouting at the TV screen, go boy !!!
Then, he sprouts wings and hits the line like a Ferrari whilst the favourite is out of gas.
Your horse is driving to the post, the leader has stopped, it's gone, full of momentum your horse is finishing so fast that with two strides to go, in the shadows of the post your horse hits the front and is going so quick, it's a clear margin of a head on the line, not even the need of a photo finish !
Wow ! Did that just happen, is that for real, did you just see that, your horse has out performed expectation on debut and Won !
That's how Dynamic owners of debut runner MEDVEDEV experienced their first run by their horse.
Medvedev practicing a pose for his winning photo yesterday
CONGRATULATIONS to our Dynamic Team of Owners!
Dynamic Syndications Racing, Victory Chips, R Towne, R F Carthew, D H Sutton, W D Clem, BRS Racing Syndicate, Dynamic No 27, Dynamic No 28, T J Guthrie
Mitchelton Wines Mdn Plate
SEYMOUR - 15/11/12 - 1300m
Official Margin: HD x ¾ length
Time: 1.18.35
Winner: MEDVEDEV (Commands – Rossiya (FR))
MEDVEDEV is a 3yo by COMMANDS / ROSSIYA by Machiavellian. Bred on the successful Danehill / Machiavellian cross that has produced 11 stakes winners, this horse was purchased by Dean Watt at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $55,000 and syndicated by Dynamic Syndications with Peter Moody the trainer.
Peter Moody has always had an opinion of this galloper but was aware that typical of the Commands breed, it wants time and will be better as a late 3yo and older horse over 1600m plus. This is a pedigree chock full of middle distance gallopers.
Whilst it was only a country maiden, all any horse can do is win. MEDVEDEV showed both courage and ability. He defeated a big field with some proven form. He has a long way to go yet and a good horse wins statistically 1 race per 7 starts however the way he hit the line suggests there is a lot of fun in store for our Dynamic team of owners.
Special mention of thanks to jockey Jason Benbow for his clever ride and to Peter Moody and his great team for the top job they have obviously done to deliver our owners the ultimate dream!