An inch is as good as a mile when it comes to declaring a winner on the racetrack and the loyal team of Dynamic Owners that race the aptly named HOTEL AMOUR (4yo Gelding AMERICAIN x PARIS TRYST) were celebrating by “Raising a Glass” to toast the horse they “Love” after his much deserved but long time coming Maiden Win.
HOTEL AMOUR looked a treat pre-race and performed as he looked
HOTEL AMOUR winning at Newcastle
HOTEL AMOUR won Race 1, the HUNGERFORD HILL WINES Maiden Plate over 1600m at Newcastle on Tuesday 9 July.
Ridden by Andrew Gibbons, the Richard and Michael Freedman trained HOTEL AMOUR won on his 10th visit to the starter and has taken his record to 1 Win, 2 Seconds, 2 Thirds, 1 fourth and $35,440.
This preparation he was 4th over 1400m on a Heavy 10 beaten 7 lengths, then last start he was second-up when third over 1600m by 0.79 length.
Here at his 3rd start for the preparation and staying at 1600m despite looking for further ground, he outstayed his opponents to record a 0.13 length win over Saintly Sunrise with King’s Row a further 2.13 lengths away in third spot.
This was not a race you would like to watch again.
It was as "ugly" as it was "beautiful"
A small field with no pace on paper turned out to be a horrible tactical race where the field "walked, jogged, cantered" for the first 1000m before turning it into a “charge of the light brigade” where these milers sizzled home in an incredibly quick 33.62 seconds.
They ran 10.98 secs from the 600m – 400m, 11.07 secs 400m – 200m and 11.57 secs the last 200m.
To put things into perspective the 900m race at Newcastle on Tuesday ran home its last 600m in 33.83 seconds, which is 0.21 seconds slower which equates to approximately 1.5 lengths !
However they ran the overall event in a farcically slow 1:42.08 which is more like trackwork than race conditions.
It’s in events like this, that you need the benefit of a skillful rider to judge tempo and give the horse the best chance to win.
In this regard, you need to watch to appreciate the excellent horsemanship of Andrew Gibbons who snatched victory for Team Dynamic.
Andrew Gibbons rode Hotel Amour at his last race and suggested the time was right to put the blinkers on because he didn’t want to run past his opponent’s last start when third beaten 0.79 length.
We were keen to go up in trip as well but Gibbo recommended we put blinkers on and stay one more at 1600m as a foundation and ride him conservatively, before going up to the 2000m.
We took his advice and Gibbo was back in the saddle and there is no doubt if we had a change of jockey into today’s event, we would have had a different result.
On paper there was no leader and that’s exactly the way the race panned out.
King’s Row went to the front and dropped anchor causing all the field to over-race and check and check again.
Hotel Amour came out of the gates ready to hum along but Gibbo grabbed hold and wrestled him back in the field, to which he settled well at the tail but that was only 3 lengths off the leader.
Rachel King aboard High Flight was arguing with her mount who wanted to take-off, so she had to come out 3 wide to avoid the heels of the leaders and when she did that, Gibbo quickly slipped up into her running spot, trapping Rachel out wide. That was tactically outstanding.
At the 600m Rachel pushed the go button and dashed 3 lengths in front and Gibbo asked Hotel Amour to rally and chase.
Hotel Amour responded courageously and gave chase whilst the horse they backed in the race Saintly Sunrise went with Hotel Amour.
From the 200m to the winning post it was a war of attrition with both horses carrying 59.0kgs, not prepared to surrender.
Over the closing 50m Hotel Amour’s superior stamina kicked in and stride by stride he gradually pulled away to record 0.13 short head win.
100m
50m
25m
Post
Returning to the Winners Stall
"Fist Pump" - that was a good result !
Winner's Stall
Will Freedman gets a debrief
Hotel Amour from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
ABOVE: Here is a replay of the race
We are excited to get HOTEL AMOUR out to a trip which will suit him better.
Bred to run 2 miles (3200m), HOTEL AMOUR is by MELBOURNE CUP Winner AMERICAIN from a daughter of MELBOURNE CUP winner LET’S ELOPE.
So this mile event (1600m) was just seeing our horse really start to get warm, when it was all over.
We are particularly happy for co-owners Colleen & Kevin Bamford who bred Hotel Amour at their Daisy Hill property in Victoria. The Bamford’s were co-owners in the sire AMERICAIN. When Dynamic Syndications purchased this horse as a yearling, Colleen was the first to buy a share back into the horse.
As ugly as the race was to watch, it was a beautiful ride by Andrew Gibbons and an exquisite win for our Loyal Team of Dynamic Owners that race HOTEL AMOUR.
Congratulations goes to our Loyal Owners: Dynamic Syndications Racing Syndicate, Mrs C O Bamford, Mr K L Bamford, Mr G J Henry, Mr W J Fleming, Mr A W Brazier, Mr L A Lindsell, Ms C Holmes, Nautical Syndicate, Mr R J Matejcic, Mr G M Oleksinski, Mr S J Koukoulas, Ms A Collins, Mr S Najda, Mr R J Gall, Mr C N Deeb and Mr G J Pratley.
We take this opportunity to acknowledge RICHARD, MICHAEL and WILL FREEDMAN and their stable staff for the terrific job they do training Dynamic Winners.
Hotel Amour joins other winners trained for Dynamic Syndications by the Freedman’s this calendar year including WITCHES, MUSHAIREB, Our Fun, Elaborate (2) and last Saturday’s winner Aloneinabaa.
Hotel Amour takes possession of the "Golden Horseshoe Award" from Aloneinabaa as the stable’s most recent winner.
This result recorded Dynamic Syndications 49th Win for the 2018-19 Racing Season.
It was also our 591st Win overall since our first runner was a Winner in October 2005.
Most importantly to Dynamic Syndications, Hotel Amour became our 208th Individual Winner from 224 Individual Runners we purchased to race since 2005.
This is an incredibly high, industry leading 92.9% Winners : Runners.
Onwards and Upwards !