On Saturday 29 March, Dynamic Syndications saddled up two promising fillies at the soggy and wet Newcastle meeting. Lining up in the XXXX Gold F&M Maiden Plate over 1500 were the Dynamic Syndications gallopers Al Julhara (Gerald Ryan) and Miss Hufflepuff (Chris Waller) in what appeared a competitive event on paper.
After two runs back from a spell over unsuitably short distances the Gerald Ryan trained Al Julhara had the addition of blinkers for the first time on Saturday and with a step up to the 1500m the stable felt the Fastnet Rock filly would be competitive in a strong field of Maiden gallopers.
Whilst our fellow Dynamic runner Miss Hufflepuff was greeting the starter for the first time this preparation on the back of three solid performances at the trials. Bred to be a superior 2000-2400m runner the first up assignment appeared to be short of her optimum racing distance and the lack of race fitness were genuine concerns for the classy filly.
After reviewing the speedmaps it appeared the race was void of speed, Al Julhara jumped away quickly from one of the outside stalls and found the lead under her own steam for jockey Paul Hammersley, with the filly able to dictate terms for the first time in her career. Whilst, Miss Hufflepuff took full advantage of the inside draw for young jockey John Kissick to postion herself in third place on the back of Al Julhara for the duration of the trip.
Both jockeys rode perfect races and slowed the race tempo down to a canter over the 1500m journey, approaching the home turn jockey Paul Hammersley allowed Al Julhara to quicken up on the heavy surface and she quickly had all rivals off the bit and chasing. Al Julhara pinched a two length break at the top of the straight from Miss Hufflepuff and Halo De Lago, whilst the backmarkers and $1.80 Favourite Balmoral Baby appeared to be struggling to keep up.
Approaching the 300m Al Julhara and Miss Hufflepuff were the only horses you wanted to be on and they settled down to fight out the race over the final furlong. Al Julhara had rolled out rounding the home turn to find better ground which left a sufficient gap for Miss Hufflepuff to sneak up the inside. Miss Hufflepuff levelled up to Al Julhara with 150m to go and looked destined to run right away from her fellow Dynamic galloper. However, to Al Julhara’s credit she continued to fight hard before Miss Hufflepuff who had a 1.5kg weight relief and a soft run in transit for apprentice John Kissick kicked clear to win the race by a widening 1 length margin in what was an impressive display first up from a spell.
Miss Hufflepuff and Al Julhara made it a Dynamic Quinella in the race with a further length back to the third placed Halo De Lago with an extended margin back to the rest of the field.
Miss Hufflepuff is a regally bred daughter of super sire Encosta De Lago and she was a $125,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Purchase from the draft of Coolmore Stud in 2012. The daughter of Stakes-Winning mare Miss Helga and the Full-Sister to the Stakes Placed galloper Pink Siris, Miss Hufflepuff received a further pedigree update soon after her purchase when her Full Brother LIBERATOR went on to win the Group 1 Standard Chartered Chater Cup over 2400m in Hong Kong defeating Ambitious Dragon, Dominant and Irian. LIBERATOR was subsequently named the Champion Stayer in Hong Kong for the 2011-12 season.
Miss Hufflpeuff became Dynamic Syndications 377th Race Win and our 135th individual winner from 162 runners which equals an impressive strike rate of 83.3%.
We would like to congratulate our team of owners who race Miss Hufflepuff with us:
(Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mrs C J Smith, Mr J P Keeley, Mr G Rassos, Mr J N Allen, Australia Pacific Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Mr R J Gall, Mr L S Barkl, Mr J Carter, Mr D Vukas, Ms M Fleming, Mr R Adams, Mr N D Loader)