Dynamic Win ALTERCATION For Half Sister to ESPIONAGE

27 Aug 24

“An inch is as good as a mile” when it comes to seeing the Winners number appear on the screen after your horse sets off the flash of the photo, as it crosses the line the victor. That’s all there was, an inch, separating Dynamic 4yo chestnut mare ALTERCATION (American Pharoah x In Times Of War) and the runner-up on Saturday.

The trackwork “spies” had not missed her in the betting ring as our Dynamic mare was sent to the barriers as the $1.50 favourite.

Our JASON DEAMER trained mare ridden by Ben Looker, broke her maiden at just her second career start, and was first-up after a spell, to claim the Bellevue Hotel Tuncurry Maiden Plate 1005m on a Heavy 8 surface.

1st of 6 TUNC 24Aug24 1005m Heavy8 MDN-SW $16,000 ($8,150) Ben Looker 57kg Bar 2
2nd I'm Done 59kg, 3rd Selfless Valour 55.5kg 1:00.47 (600m 35.35), 0.09L,
1st@800m, 1st@400m, $1.45/$1.55/$1.50/$1.50

Sometimes in racing, when you own a well-bred mare, a win in the bush is just as vital as a win in town, and such was the case with ALTERCATION who had run fourth on debut at Newcastle on 23 December before heading out for a spell.

Despite being an encouraging 4th on debut, on her pedigree page as a breeding prospect when her racing days conclude, she would have only carried the moniker of “unplaced.”

Now after 2 starts, she carriers the moniker “Winner” onto the pedigree page and into her future breeding career.

In the case of ALTERCATION, this is extremely important as is explained below:

Her younger now 3yo half-brother is ESPIONAGE (Zoustar x In Times Of War). An extremely promising dual stakes winner and stakes placed runner-up from only 4 starts during his 2yo season for Gai & Adrian.

ESPIONAGE

ESPIONAGE 4:2-1-0 & $345,200 won the Breeders Plate Gr3, 1000m last September before a spell. Then he resumed in February to finish runner-up in the Silver Slipper Gr2 1100m. Next he was fifth in the Todman Gr2 1200m, before winning the Kindergarten Gr3 1100m then being spelled to prepare for his Spring 3yo campaign.

ESPIONAGE has since been sold to Coolmore Stud as a sire prospect and is in full training with targets being the Everest 1200m and / or the Coolmore Stud Stakes Gr1 1200m.

Hence why it was important for Team Dynamic to manage the racing career of ALTERCATION for her owners.

We believe she has the ability to be running in metropolitan class races later this prep, however by attacking “low hanging fruit” early in the preparation, we convert her status to “Winner” rather than “unplaced.”

Adam Watt at Dynamic kept her owners informed of what we were attempting to achieve and its always rewarding when a plan pays off.

Working in closely with our vital team member, trainer JASON DEAMER, the boys hatched a plan to have her ready to go first-up this prep.

We then had her nominated and accepted for several races including: Newcastle, Tuncurry, Taree and Tamworth with our sole focus of picking out the race that gave us the best opportunity of winning. If things went pear shaped in the race (which can happen sometimes) at least we should finish second or third and achieve a change of status from unplaced to “placed.”

After analysing the nominations and acceptances, our team settled on the race at Tuncurry as the best opportunity to achieve our desired result.

However, one thing we had learnt with ALTERCATION was she has a genuine hatred of wet ground. We knew the Tuncurry track was rain affected yet there was no rain in the lead-up and warm weather and the track was rated Soft 7 on the morning and with another half-day of drying conditions before our racetime, we were anticipating a minimum of a Soft 6 by racetime.

Unfortunately, the truth of the matter was that the track was never a “Soft 7” as declared and after the first race the track was downgraded to a Heavy 8 which she just despises this ground.

There was nothing we could do, we were locked in but still believed her class would carry her through and we were proven to be correct, but only just.

There were originally 9 acceptors, but 3 scratchings resulted in 6 runners facing the starter.

Instructions to Ben Looker were to go straight to the lead, keeping out of trouble and taking bad luck out of play. Then wait until she balanced-up into the top of the straight and push the “go-button” then and class should prevail.

Ben rode to instructions perfectly and after the first 100m ALTERCATION was a length clear in the lead.

Ben took a tight hold keeping our mare in rhythm and conserving energy, and the race didn’t change shape until the field thundered around the home turn. Upon straightening, ALTERCATION kicked 3 lengths in front and the race looked all over with those chasing unable to match her acceleration.

At the 250m, ALTERCATION hit a real wet patch and lost stride and confidence. Ben had to get busy for a few strides to keep her mind focused but was still clearly 2 lengths in front and appearing in no danger.

Passing the 100m point the margin was still 2 lengths and with one final push along at the 80m point, Ben looked around and believed he was in no danger, so dropped his hands and allowed ALTERCATION to cruise to the line.

That almost caused a big upset.

ALTERCATION being unhappy on the Heavy track, and once Ben stopped riding her out, and our mare was also getting tired, being first-up from a spell. These three factors combined, and our mare must have thought her job was complete, so she eased herself down too quickly. With 25m to run she was over a length clear but started to pull-up whilst the two chasers were under vigorous riding trying to catch us.

Ben was caught unawares of the closers, as he believed she had the race sewn-up. He then spotted the eventual runner-up rattling home along the fence.

It was panic stations over the last 6 strides as Ben had to get desperate to keep ALTERCATION going through the line.

As the camera flashed, her nose was in front and that’s all she needed to claim the WIN for her owners and change her status to being a Winning Half-Sister over 1005m to ESPIONAGE.

JOB DONE !

A Big Thanks to Adam Watt, Jason Deamer and Ben Looker.

Teamwork makes the dream work !

We believe there are several more victories available in much better grade races for ALTERCATION but this win ensures the commerciality of ALTERCATION as a broodmare later on, and was vital and rewarding.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Dynamic Ownership of ALTERCATION: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr G Harvey, Mrs C Anderton, Bredarbri Stables, Mr J M Nassim, Mrs F D Griffin, Mrs C J D Hunt, Mr D P Webb, Mr J T Storey, C J R Racing, Mr R L Blows, Mr J R Warton

The Win by ALTERCATION was our third (3rd) Win for the New Racing Season which started on the 1st August 24.

It was our 893rd Race Win Overall. It was also our 307th Individual Winner from 345 Individual Runners continuing our industry leading amazing strike rate of 89%.

Onwards and Upwards – Forever Forward!