In the words of Sky Channel race caller Mitch Manners, “in typical Nash Rawiller style he threw everything at his mount, all but lifting Escaped to get to the post with a short head advantage over his stablemate You Rang, ridden by Tommy Berry.”
Mitch said it all.
ESCAPED winning at Kembla Grange
Congratulations to our Dynamic Ownership Team of promising 2yo ESCAPED (Exceed And Excel x Se Sauver) who won a thrilling 2yo race at Kembla Grange on Thursday.
Winning Photo
ESCAPED has now started twice for a win and $26,375 prizemoney.
At his first preparation he showed above average ability and was entered into the LONHRO Plate (LR) however the occasion got to him mentally and he performed below expectation.
He was immediately spelled and resumed here with the view that he may measure up to something a bit better than this event over the Spring.
Pre-race it was a" toss of the coin" as to which of the stablemates from the Waterhouse/Bott Stable could beat the other home as foreman Neil Paine summed it up to the owners by saying “they will quinella the race but I can’t tell you in which order as there is nothing between them.”
Neil was correct as the Waterhouse / Bott pair fought out a two horse battle of attrition from the 400m to the winning post with the genius of Nash Rawiller throwing Escaped over the line to win Race 4 the Figtree 2YO Maiden Plate 1000m.
The margin was a Short Head x 3 lengths and Escaped ($3.80) at his second career start and his first start this preparation displayed the ability we have always known he had, to defeat the regally bred filly You Rang (55.0kgs) (Sebring x Ruud Awakening) ($2.50) with the $600,000 yearling Sangria (55.0kgs) (I Am Invincible x Quench The Thirst) ($31) back in third spot with Leo (57.0kgs) (I Am Invincible x Swooning) ($260,000) in fourth a further 0.5 lengths away.
Both Waterhouse runners drew wide in the field of 10 runners with You Rang in barrier 9 and Escaped barrier 10.
It was the intent that Escaped would go forward and the expectation on the speed map was that You Rang would settle just behind Escaped and this pair would lead comfortably. However as the gates crashed back, Escaped was slow to begin by half a length (as can happen with inexperienced 2yo’s from the outside barrier) and the You Rang kicked forward to lead whilst Nash had to bustle Escaped to go forward and sit at the girth of the filly. After 100m, You Rang pushed across and got a 2 length break on the field with Ranges sitting second and Escaped to its outside in third.
Between the 800m to the 600m Ranges dropped off whilst Escaped was pushed up to sit at the girth of You Rang again with Leo pushing up 3 wide to sit at the girth of Escaped.
As the filed swung for home, the Waterhouse / Bott pair eyeballed each other at the 400m mark with You Rang the advantage of the inside with the fence to follow and the 2.0kg pull in the weights and Tommy Berry in the saddle and Escaped with Nash Rawiller on top, settled down to a two horse war.
It was exciting as the pair quickly dropped those chasing and lengthened their lead stride by stride.
The determination of Escaped was matched by the resilience of You Rang as Waterhouse famous Bone and Muscle kicked-in and neither would give an inch.
It took the length of the straight for the class of Escaped to rise to the top and over the last 5 strides he gained a slight ascendancy. The determination of Nash Rawiller was on display. He gritted his teeth and rode like the Nash Rawiller we have always known, throwing every ounce of effort at our colt and pushed his head down on the line in a brilliantly judged effort.
Nash drives ESCAPED to the line - see Nash's gritted teeth of determination
It was still very much a heads up / heads down finish and when the judge took the photo, despite an awkward camera angle, ESCAPED had won clearly by a short head in a very slick 56.87 secs coming home in 32.94 secs.
Nash and Escaped return to the Winners stall
The crowd on course went wild as they realised Nash had just ridden his first winner back since a 15 month break from race riding.
Success - Nash returns a Winner on ESCAPED
Upon returning to scale to an emotional scene of hugs, kisses and backslapping of all connections involved, Nash was so fit that he was hardly short of breath.
In his own laid-back, considered way, Nash was interviewed by Richard Haynes for Sky Channel and said of the race:
"We looked at each other (Tommy Berry – You Rang) on the line and neither one of us wanted to get too excited but I thought I had won, but wasn't too sure,"
“He’s a lovely horse but he’s just not there yet - but neither am I.
“I’ve ticked another box off today.
“I jumped fair, I just didn’t show the same speed as Tommy, so I elected to let him go and the best part of that horse’s performance today was that he relaxed that little bit early.
“He did get a little bit keen when I moved up to take the stablemate on the corner but that’s him.
“What I liked was that first 200m when he took a breather – that’s what got him over the line.
“I think although it’s still a fair way off yet, he’s got the potential to get 1400m but he just needs to keep learning.”
ESCAPED - Winning connections
Escaped - Winning 25.7.19 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
ABOVE: Enjoy the Race Replay
Escaped 25.7.19 montage from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
ABOVE: Watch and enjoy the Raceday Ownership Experience
CONGRATULATIONS to our Team of Dynamic Owners that race ESCAPED:
Dynamic Syndications Racing Synd, Kia Ora 2009 Synd, Mr D A Poletto, Mrs C Holden, Mr A Cranes, Mr G Downard, Martin Thoroughbred Racing Synd, Mr A J Luciano, Mr D C Turner, Mr S Hughes, Mrs C Anderton.
This win by ESCAPED recorded Dynamic Syndications 54th Win of the 2018-19 Racing Season and our 596th Race Win overall since October 2005.
With ESCAPED breaking his maiden, he became our 511th Individual Winner from 525 Individual Runners which is an incredibly high 93.8%.
Onward and Upward !