Dynamic Syndications unbeaten 3yo grey gelding
LOVE TAP (by TAPIT (USA) x SMOKEY’S LOVE (USA)) has been crunched into
$3.50 outright favourite for the
ATC Spring Champion Stakes Gr1 2000m, to be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday 10th October.
The
Richard & Michael Freedman trained LOVE TAP will be ridden by Nash Rawiller in the Gr1 Spring Champion and in his final lead-in race being this Saturday’s Gloaming Stakes.
Nash drove down the line to Goulburn for
LOVE TAP’s most recent start, where the Dynamic Duo carried 58.5kgs against older horses under Handicap conditions and won eased down by 4.35 lengths in what was no more than a training gallop, and in the process, smashed the Track Record running
1:28.13 sizzling home in
33.73 secs at a starting price of $1.07 favourite.
To put into perspective, he was also accepted for the
Dulcify the following day, however we chose the Goulburn option because
LOVE TAP was a gelding and we didn’t want to place him under additional pressure taking on the colts trying to make stallion prospects out of themselves in the Dulcify. The Dulcify was won by Mo’Unga who on a Good 4 surface ran 1:28.42 and a last 600m in 35.29. Whilst times can be deceiving, the fact is
LOVE TAP did run
0.29 secs faster (approx. 2 lengths) and a whopping
1.56 secs faster (approx. 11 lengths) last 600m.
Leading industry ratings men rate
LOVE TAP’s win higher than the win of Mo’Unga. With Mo’Unga withdrawing from the Spring Champion pathway on Monday morning,
LOVE TAP firmed from $6.00 second favourite into $3.50 outright favourite.
LOVE TAP will have his lead-up assignment at Rosehill on Saturday in the Gr3 Gloaming Stakes over 1800m.
We are following a similar pathway we had success with
SAVABEEL where we ran him in the
Golden Rose 1400m (5th) then it was 21 days into the
Gloaming (2nd), then 14 days into the
Spring Champion (1st) then we took him to Melbourne for the
Cox Plate (1st) and then into the
VIC Derby (2nd).
Whilst the racing calendar has seen changes in the lead-in pathways for 3yo’s over the years, we know that
10 of the past 15 Spring Champion Winners have raced through the Gloaming on their way to claim the main target. Interestingly only
2 fillies have won the race since
2000 (19 years).
LOVE TAP is holding nominations into both the
Cox Plate (49.5kgs) and
VIC Derby should things go to plan, and he win the
Gr1 Spring Champion.
Whilst our 3yo must take the next step and prove himself against better grade opposition, the clock speaks for itself and we have identified 10 exciting aspects to be upbeat about
LOVE TAP:
(1) Firstly, he will drop back in weight having carried 58.5kgs last start and 57.5kgs the start before that, to 56.5kgs which is
2.0kgs less than he carried last start against older horses under Handicap conditions.
(2) Secondly and most importantly, he will
drop back to 3yo age group, for the first time under set weights.
(3) Third, he finally has a distance that his pedigree page and conformation have been crying out for being
1800m - 2000m.
(4) Fourth, his
times and sectionals have had ratings men in awe at each of his first 3 race starts.
(5) Fifth, LOVE TAP is also
versatile, where he can take a
sit or go forward and lead. Therefore, tempo will not be a concern for connections.
(6) Sixth, LOVE TAP has shown he has the adaptability to handle all surfaces having won on a
Slow 7, Heavy 9 and Good 4, so whatever is served up to him on Spring Champion Day, connections are confident that our horse will handle the occasion.
(7) Seventh, Nash Rawiller has been bullish about LOVE TAP for a long time and has been adamant that our stunning grey gelding was to be his ride in the Spring Champion Stakes in 2020. Nash was so committed to LOVE TAP that for the first time in his riding career, Nash drove down to Goulburn to ride him.
(8) Eighth, Trainer: The experience of the
Freedman Brothers is to the fore.
Richard has polished LOVE TAP into a very promising Gr1 prospect. This is not new ground for the brothers and with their immense experience in setting horses for big races, it’s certainly a bonus whilst their stables are one of the most successful by strike rate in Sydney.
(9) Ninth, LOVE TAP is bred on the sensational
TAPIT x FORESTRY (Storm Cat) Cross. There have been 9 runners bred this way, 8 winners + 1 placegetter, including 2 Stakes Winners; HEARTWOOD, MUFAJAAH. Of these 9 runners 3 have been Males = 3 Winners including SW HEARTWOOD; also INTO THE FOREST and LOVE TAP.
(10) Pedigree: He has the
breeding and conformation, size and scope to run the trip.
SIRE: LOVE TAP is a son of Champion USA based Sire
TAPIT (USA). This stallion has sensational statistics hence his $200,000 USD Service Fee. His data reveals:
135 Stakes Winners (25 Gr1).
75.3% Runrs / Wnrs
80.5% Males to Race / Wnrs
53.4% Winners at 3
68.8% Winners at 4
22 / 25 88% Gr1 Winners have won beyond 1600m.
6 / 25 24% Gr1 Winners have won between 2000m 2400m
DAM: LOVE TAP is from the mare
SMOKEY’S LOVE (By Forestry). A winner of 2 races in the USA, she is the Dam of 5 named foals, all winners including
Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 winner FIGHTING MAD:
Fighting Mad: 5 wins – 1100m (1) 1200m (1), 1600m (1), 1700m (2)
Panoe: 7 wins - 1100m (2) 1200m (1) 1300m (1) 1500m (2) 1600m (1)
Really: 4 wins - won 1100m (1) 1200m (2) 1400m (1)
Love Tap: 3 wins – 1200m (2), 1500m (1)
Guide Me Through: 1 win – won 1200m (1)
SUMMATION: Racing is a business as much as it’s a sport and importantly, whilst there are never any guarantees, certainly the future belongs to those who plan for it. We have planned
LOVE TAP’s assault on the 2000m Spring Champion since his early barrier trials. We have mapped out the target on how to get there, including being disciplined enough to run in three country races early, rather than city races to build his confidence and experience without taxing him over unsuitable short course events.
We have a horse capable; we have a highly experienced and professional trainer; we have our leading rider in the saddle; our horse can handle all surfaces and tempos. He’s bred to be at his best at these trips and he has had the right foundations laid for him. Now its up to him.
His start in the Gloaming will tell us more, as the 1800m in stakes class is a different proposition than bashing-up bush horses over short courses but dropping in weight 2.0kgs and back to 3yo company under set weights, he looks ideally placed.
We are naturally excited about his future, but we continue to take it day by day, one step at a time. The future belongs to those who plan for it and this has been a
military precision exercise from the outset, to arrive fit and well when it matters.
There are some very promising 3yo’s in the Gloaming nominations and
we totally respect each horse that he will line up against, as their connections like us, believe their horses will be better suited at the distance.
The Gloaming promises to be an absorbing contest.
CURRENT PRICES with TAB for SPRING CHAMPION as at 2:00pm 21-9-20
10 horses were quoted under $26.00 (pre-noms):
Horse Win Place
LOVE TAP 3.50 1.62
MIRAVALLE 6.00 2.25
MONTEFILIA 6.00 2.25
ACHIEVER 11.00 3.50
CADENABBIA 11.00 3.50
EASY CAMPESE 15.00 4.50
HOLYFIELD 15.00 4.50
HUNGRY HEART 15.00 4.50
LIONS ROAR 15.00 4.50
YANGTZE RAPIDS 15.00 4.50
SPRING CHAMPION Winners Since 2000
12 Oct 2019 SHADOW HERO (AUS) 3G
06 Oct 2018 MAID OF HEAVEN (AUS) 3F
07 Oct 2017 ACE HIGH (AUS) 3C
08 Oct 2016 YANKEE ROSE (AUS) 3F
10 Oct 2015 VANBRUGH (AUS) 3C
11 Oct 2014 HAMPTON COURT (AUS) 3C
12 Oct 2013 COMPLACENT (AUS) 3C
06 Oct 2012 DUNDEEL (NZ) 3C
01 Oct 2011 DOCTOR DOOM (AUS) 3G
02 Oct 2010 EREWHON (AUS) 3G
03 Oct 2009 MONACO CONSUL (NZ) 3C
04 Oct 2008 SOUSA (NZ) 3C
2007 Not Run
07 Oct 2006 TERANABA (AUS) 3C
01 Oct 2005 HOTEL GRAND (AUS) 3C
02 Oct 2004 SAVABEEL (AUS) 3C
04 Oct 2003 NIELLO (AUS) 3C
05 Oct 2002 PLATINUM SCISSORS (AUS) 3C
29 Sep 2001 VIKING RULER (AUS) 3C
02 Oct 2000 UNIVERSAL PRINCE (AUS) 3C