One of the true "cult" races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival is the annual running of the SUBZERO Handicap, a Benchmark 90 over 1400m which is restricted to "Grey Horses" only.
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GO THE GREY ! But which one? LOVE TAP of course wearing our silks
It’s a sight to behold, as a field of magnificent grey thoroughbreds, ranging from the ghostly grey to the darker steely grey, parade before a heaving crowd of racing fans craning their necks to glimpse the spectacle before the horses head to the starting gates and then race to the post offering a feast for the senses.
For the 2022 edition of the famous “Grey Stars” feature, well back on the 30th July 22, Adam Watt from DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS mapped out a plan for our talented 5yo gelding LOVE TAP (Tapit x Smokey’s Love) to freshen-up and aim at the 1400m SUBZERO Handicap on Melbourne Cup Day, after LOVE TAP had won an Open Handicap over 1400m at Eagle Farm.
The constant goal we were aiming at never wavered, however the biggest risk to achieving our target would be the state of the track, because LOVE TAP can be a “bit precious” at times and doesn’t like getting his toes muddy.
We believed that was the only aspect that could ruin our dream, which was for our horse to Win and for our owners to be on the podium on Cup Day at Flemington.
After his win on 30 July, we gave LOVE TAP two more race starts. He hit a Soft Track over 1600m on 13 August where to be fair he was a touch disappointing, but then we pushed on for one more start on 27 August at 1835m where he ran fourth. We felt the longer trip is not to his liking as he has aged, he is best as a 7-furlong to 8-furlong horse who races best fresh.
However, in communication with our trainers Richard and Will Freedman, to give us the best hope this 1835m event ensured he was rock hard fit when he went to the paddock for a short break.
It’s now interesting to reflect on that result as the winner of the 1835m race on 27 August was Bartholomeu Dias (GB) who we gave weight too, and we were the victim of a poor ride, Bartholomeu Dias (GB) then went on to run 4th in the Toowoomba Cup over 2000m and then also won on Melbourne Cup Day, claiming the 1800m Cup Day Plate LR.
LOVE TAP to be ready for this assignment could only have a blink in the paddock. He was given just 12 days off before returning to training. This allowed him a mental freshen-up and allowed Richard and William Freedman to tap away at his residual fitness without causing excess stress to get him fit.
We then gave him two (2) tick over trials.
The first on 4 October over 900m at Rosehill which he won.
It was here that Adam Watt swooped and in a masterstroke he engaged Blake Shinn for our ride.
Then we gave LOVE TAP a second trial on the 22nd October over 1030m at Rosehill which we just used to stretch his legs without being under pressure and he finished 2nd.
We were now 11 days away from his target, but the heavy rains in Victoria and the flooding around Flemington had us nervous that we may not get a suitable racetrack on the day. That was beyond our control and we took our chances.
RICHARD and WILL FREEDMAN sent LOVE TAP to Melbourne in glorious condition.
LOVE TAP being saddled up by WILL FREEDMAN and our Strapper
He is an Equine Adonis and looked amazing in the parade ring, and a class well above his peers.
The fact was as a Benchmark 91 rated horse, he was a class above and the handicapper made him carry 60.5kgs and give all his competitors weight.
In an amazing set of circumstances, the weather forecast was for heavy rain and hail through the day.
The track started the morning a Soft 5 which was already a concern, but the superior Flemington surface and drainage was to our advantage. Then the racing gods were smiling on us here as the heavy rain came, but not until after our race.
With Blake Shinn in the saddle, LOVE TAP went to the gates as a $12 chance on the sixth line of betting in a field of 15 competitors. Punters took a set against him due to the weight and a genuine dislike for rain affected ground and being first-up off a spell.
However the market discounted the fact we had set the horse for the race and they didn’t anticipate what a wonderful ride jet pilot Blake Shinn would produce.
As the gates crashed back the field was dispatched in a perfect line and for the first 100m you could have thrown a handkerchief over the field.
Blake then, as per instruction, grabbed hold and LOVE TAP settled beautifully midfield, but was trapped 3 deep however that didn’t matter because he was in the running line and importantly had cover.
The tempo was strong early and LOVE TAP was about 6 lengths off the pace as the field began the swing into the long Flemington straight.
Blake knew he had a lapful of horse underneath him and didn’t want to be caught in a pocket so angled out to 4 deep as the field balanced for the run to the line.
Passing the 300m LOVE TAP had pulled himself up to be a length behind the leaders with clear galloping room in front of him.
Then at the 250m Blake let the brakes off and LOVE TAP bounded to the front.
Having established a length margin, Blake asked LOVE TAP (60.5kgs) to extend and he was strong through the line to post a 1.25 length margin over the runner up Kooled (54.0kgs) ($10) with Stuck By (58.0kgs) ($5.50) a nose back in third spot.
LOVE TAP takes control and powers away
Race 3 – $150,000 Resimax Group Subzero Handicap (1400m)
Love Tap was impressive first-up winning the greys’ race on Melbourne Cup Day 2022
1st: No. 1 Love Tap
2nd: No. 9 Kooled
3rd: No. 5 Struck By
This was a huge moment for Richard & Will Freedman and our Dynamic Owners.
Jockey Blake Shinn rode the perfect race and Love Tap did the rest.
Racecaller Matt Hill said over the final 275m: “Struck By at the 250m in front, but here’s LOVE TAP - LOVE TAP the outside, moves up takes the lead …..”
“LOVE TAP with 100 metres to go breaks clear, and LOVE TAP is going to win it. LOVE TAP first.”
Over the final 50m of the race, the crowd erupted and the roar could be heard on the coverage and our owners were hugging and high-fiving in the owners section of the grandstand, whilst Adam Watt and Will Freedman were jumping for joy and hugging and back slapping their incredible success, whilst the race footage showed a delighted jockey pumped-up for his winning ride.
This 30 second video clip sums up what the race meant to ADAM & WILL when a Plan comes off
Love Tap - excited owners from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Returning back to the parade area, Blake Shinn and LOVE TAP were receiving enormous cheers as Blake waved to the crowd acknowledging their well wishes.
REPLAY after correct weight of ADAM & BLAKE high-five when Returning to Scale
There were wonderful scenes in the mounting yard as Adam Watt met Blake Shinn with a high-five as they entered the parade area and the strapper led LOVE TAP and Blake back to the Winner’s Stall where our owners and connections filed into the winners area and greeted their stead and rider back with thunderous applause.
Dynamic BLAKE SHINN enjoying the crowds reception
LOVE TAP returns a winner
Then after the Blake had weighed-in, our owners funnelled out into the centre of the parade area to have their photo taken with LOVE TAP and cap off a wonderful few minutes of exhilaration, that only winning major races on Big Days can deliver.
LOVE TAP - A Dominant Winner of the SUBZERO Handicap
LOVE TAP crew in the Winner's Circle MELBOURNE CUP Day 2022
So, to win his first race at the famed Flemington Melbourne Cup Carnival in the race named after the horse his father Richard and uncles prepared for the ultimate success, was indeed a special moment for the 31-year-old Will.
In post-race interviews with both Racing.com and Channel 10 WILL FREEDMAN who had watched the race with ADAM WATT and shouted and cheered LOVE TAP to victory said:
Channel 10 presenter Michael Felgate said:
MF: “It was meant to be - LOVE TAP winning for Richard and Will Freedman, well that’s their first win in partnership at a Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“It was Richard Freedman, part of the FBI (Freedman Brothers Incorporated), who trained the big grey that won the Cup in 1992, and today, he trains LOVE TAP to win the race in SUBZERO’s honour.
“He was dominant too. First up and he’s got a bit of class and he showed it today.”
Gator: “Well he gave them all weight and beat them so, it’s really difficult to argue around all that.
“The query was coming into the race was how wet would it be? He’s not a great wet tracker, but the Soft 5 range is fine for him, and as the highest rated runner in the race, once he got out in clear air, he was able to finish. Stuck By was great but all honours with the Winner.”
Michele Payne added: “Yeah he had a lovely sit off the speed, and as Francesca said in the parade, he’s a good-looking horse and I didn’t know what to expect today, but he was brilliant.”
After pulling-up LOVE TAP after the race, Channel 10 commentator was right there on horseback to capture the magic.
She said: “Blake congratulations to you and what a brilliant performance. Such a novelty isn’t it to look around and see a race full of greys.”
BS: “Yeah it is and it’s a great tradition, to be run on Melbourne Cup Day, yeah it’s a great race to win and it’s just nice to break my account on Melbourne Cup Day.
“To the Freedman’s and Dynamic Syndications, they are great supporters of racing. I’m just delighted to come here today and get a winner. It’s very hard at Cup time, it’s nice to be back here in Melbourne, it’s great to be back against the big boys and to get a winner is fantastic.”
RC: “It was a tough weight carrying effort from the horse too”
BS: “It was, he carried sixty and a half but he’s got a lot of class this horse, and he presented really well prep their horses well, and they had prepped him up nicely for this race they targeted and it’s just nice to get the job done for them. Richard and Will.
Channel 10, then crossed to presenter Michael Felgate who then interviewed Will Freedman:
MF: “Will, congratulations. What a moment for you and the family, your dad Richard had a very soft spot for SUBZERO, so for you to combine with your old man and win this race today will mean a lot.”
Will respond: “Yes it does. SUBZERO was a great horse, being he did most of his work after his race career, albeit that he won the Melbourne Cup. It was definitely one of Richard’s favourite horses.
“I read an article, he didn’t tell me personally, I had to read it online, he said that ‘it would have been special for him to win this race in SUBZERO’s honour.’
“Dynamic (Syndications) have been great clients of ours and to be fair, it’s a very collaborative exercise getting these horses here. Owners are a lot more involved than they ever use to be.
“We earmarked this race quite a while out and had him really fresh and he’s done the job pretty well.”
MF: “He’s done a big job first up today, it was a dominant win and a special moment for you personally, because with you and your dad, it’s your first win in a Melbourne Cup Carnival.”
Will: “A big thrill. I can remember two years ago spring carnival, I was at a Muswellbrook Sky 2 meeting training on my own, so it’s definitely a step up in grade, a step up in class. It’s a privilege to train with my father, we have a few heated discussions, but I am very, very lucky to be in the position I am in.
“I am thrilled to be over the line with our first in a Melbourne Cup Carnival.”
MF: “There we have Will, combining with his father to win the race named in honour of SUBZERO, Richard Freedman’s favourite horse with LOVE TAP.”
Racing.com commentators on their platform added:
“They have run 1:22.99 which is inside the Soft track standard time of 1:23.77 and the connections enjoyed their victory with LOVE TAP, and so they should be, and there was co-trainer Will Freedman also celebrating.
“This horse was just arrogantly disposing of this field the way he put them away in the closing stages.
“With the big weight he was rated the best horse in the event, and he proved to be.”
“One and a quarter by a nose the margins here, as 1 beat, 9, 5 and 7.
“A good result there for Dynamic Syndications, who have plenty of horses right across the country.
“Let’s hear from Will Freedman about the victory of LOVE TAP.”
“Will Freedman joins us at Racing.com after a well-deserved victory for LOVE TAP.
“Will, seven wins from twenty starts, and over half a million dollars in stakes, tells us that he had a bit of a class edge, and a little bit of Charlotte Littlefield’s polish as well?”
Will said: “Absolutely, Charlotte has been amazing down at her stables, it’s been fantastic, the hospitality we have been given from Charlotte has been second to none, and that equi-train is a good facility to train upon.
“It’s a special race for the family. SUBZERO was a huge horse for us, and the whole industry, so above all else, it’s just a really big thrill to win a race in his honour.”
RC: “And to get a win for the Team at Dynamic as well on Cup Day is massive.”
Will: “Absolutely, they do a great job, syndicating horses. They are one of the mainstays for syndication, and you can see why. It’s a very collaborative exercise with Dynamic, getting these horses here, and getting the tactics right and I can’t go past the ride of Blake Shinn you could not have mapped it any better yourself, so, very privileged to be here and it was the first win for Richard and I at the Cup Carnival so very Special.
RC: “Any late spring early summer targets for him at this stage?”
Will: “He’s a hard horse to place, he was in a very well-placed race here, there are not too many races where you get restricted by colour. So, we will just take him home and he will race through the summer for sure, but he has obviously returned in pretty good order.”
RC: “We welcome in Blake Shin after the victory in the SUBZERO. He looked to have a little bit of a touch of class on paper and that’s how it prevailed, what was it like on top?”
BS: “Yeah it was pretty smooth, he got into a nice position, the main thing with the weight was to just keep him in a comfortable rhythm, he’s effective over longer distances, so three wide with cover, then building, was an ideal scenario, and it just panned out nicely and his class shone through, a great win.”
To the press huddle Will Freedman added:
“I was only a few months old when Subzero won the 1992 Melbourne Cup, but the wonderful grey horse has always remained a big part of his life.
“He won the Cup in 1992 and I was born in 1991, so I was alive; you can probably piece together I couldn’t remember a lot, but just watching what he did after racing, it was an enormous achievement,” Will said of the horse which became racing’s greatest ambassador.
“I hope the race never changes its name because he should be remembered.”
“It’s fantastic. But it’s a privilege to win a race named after Subzero.
“He was really special for my family; and to win it for Dynamic (Syndications), who gave me my first winner, makes me really happy.”
From our Team at Dynamic Syndications perspective, this was our Fourth Win in the past Six years during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and it was our Third Win in Five years on Melbourne Cup Day!
SAVAPINSKI
It started in 2017 when SAVAPINSKI won the Matriarch Stakes Gr2 on Emirates Day, the final Saturday of the Cup Carnival.
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TELEPLAY
Then in 2018 TELEPLAY won the MSS Security Sprint 1200m on MELBOURNE CUP DAY.
TELEPLAY
Followed in 2019 as TELEPLAY went back-to-back on MELBOURNE CUP DAY by winning the Maybe Mahal Stakes Gr3 1400.
We didn't play at Flemington in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.
ADAM WATT presented the trophy for the WIN by LOVE TAP in the SUBZERO Hcp
Now in 2022 LOVE TAP adds to our resume winning the feature SUBZERO Handicap over 1400m.
We would not have tasted this success without the incredible horse husbandry and incredible teamwork of our Dynamic trainers Richard and William Freedman.
Congratulations to our WINNING TEAM
CONGRATULATIONS to our Top Team of LOYAL Dynamic Syndications Owners that race LOVE TAP with us: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr D M Badger, Ms J E Mors, Mrs T E Parish, Mr A M Parish, Mr S L Goodger, Mrs V D Dowling, Ms P Speight, Mr J Yianni, Mr N B Patterson, Ms A Rohde, Mrs C G Bodey, Ms D G Hall, Mr S A Hardiman, Mrs K Corby, Mr A N Luckman, Miss A J Hayes, Mr G J Breen, Mrs K Tew, Dynamic no. 94
Dynamic Co-Owners Kathy & Graham Tew enjoying the "Spoils of Victory" in the Winners Room
BELOW - Watch the Race Replay and enjoy !
Love Tap - Wins Flemington 1.11.22 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
BELOW- Watch the POST RACE interviews with WILL FREEDMAN & BLAKE SHINN
Love Tap - William Freedman & Blake Shinn from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
LOVE TAP has proven another shrewd investment. Purchased for $110,000 + GST from Coolmore Stud at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales in 2019.
LOVE TAP under the care of Richard and Will Freedman has advanced his race career record to:
LOVE TAP knocks Out his peers to WIN the SUBZERO
20 Starts: 7 Wins, 0 Seconds, 2 Thirds, 4 Fourths and $508,000 prizemoney.
At Stakes level he is a Gr3 Winner of the ATC Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and was 4th in the Gr1 Champion Stakes (2000m) and 4th in the Gr2 Shannon Stakes (1500m).
LOVE TAP has come a long way from a Nowra maiden win; then a win at Goulburn in a Benchmark 58; and then again in a Goulburn Class 2. That was followed by his Gr3 Win in the Gloaming. He then won a Saturday metro race, a Bm78 at a Kembla Grange stand-alone, before his Open Hcp win at Eagle Farm. Now he adds the fabulous SUBZERO to his resume.
It takes a mighty horse and incredible trainers to achieve Saturday Class wins in 3 States which is now what LOVE TAP has achieved. He has won at Rosehill, Eagle Farm and now Flemington.
This win by LOVE TAP was Dynamic Syndications “Baker’s Dozen” 13th for the new Racing Season and our 783rd Race Win overall.
Onwards and Upwards !