Congratulations to our Dynamic Team of owners of the impressive
SPECIFIC CHOICE who experienced every “owners dream" by winning sensationally on debut at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
SPECIFIC CHOICE - a 3yo colt by LONHRO ex LADY OF CHOICE (by Redoute's Choice), was purchased by Dynamic Syndications from Huntworth Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales in 2011.
In the care of Sydney's #1 Trainer CHRIS WALLER, the win of SPECIFIC CHOICE was both awesome and unbelievable. For those owners that were present, the raw emotion in the winner's circle was fabulous to behold.
SPECIFIC CHOICE won the:
A J Campbell & Sons Plate - a 3yo Colts & Geldings Maiden 1200m
Set Weights (56.0kgs) Good 3
Margin Sht Hd x Sht Nk
Time 1:10.37 Last 600m 34.02
First Prize $12,250 + $5,000 BOBS Bonus.
OWNERS:
Dynamic Syndications Synd D WATT, (Mgr)
R STOJKOVSKI
D S CHOW
P R SAMIOS
Miss A J HAYES
Weston Creek Racing D JEFFERY (Mgr), N HONEY, K ANTOINE, J MASON,
A MONFRIES
Dynamic Synd 15 D WATT (Mgr), A PULBROOK, Ms M ANDREATTA,
Miss T CLEMENTS
Dynamic Synd 16 D WATT (Mgr), P FORMAN, G SMITH, J LE
Howrushun Synd M ELLIS (Mgr) J WATSON
Whitton Duke Synd W DUKE (Mgr) T WHITTON
WATCH THE WIN HERE !
Whilst the win was not totally unexpected, the fact remained when inexperienced horses front up at the races for the first time, it is extremely rare that they win, especially in a field of 14 runners and that's before you look at the form guide and see there Narcissis - a odds on favourite in the race that had competed against the best 2yo's in Sydney at his last preparation and was Group placed on three occasions including a 1 length 2nd to All Too Hard in the Gr2 Pago Pago Stakes. With this event being a Set Weights Maiden race, SPECIFIC CHOICE met Narcissism at a level 56.0kgs.
So living in hope rather than expectation, many owners of SPECIFIC CHOICE were on hand to see their horse run. Pre-race the enclosure filled quickly with nervous and excited owners, most of them involved in horse ownership for the first time. They met each other and Dynamic Dean & Fiona as they huddled together to be introduced to our jockey Chris O'Brien and hear our instruction and race tactics as to how we wanted the horse to be ridden. Chris O'Brien was at his professional best and engaged in a conversation with owners before hoping aboard our horse.
We had told our rider that we were confident that SPECIFIC CHOICE would run well but we were concerned with a $1.50 favourite in the race. We just wanted our horse to balance up early and be ridden with cover to help him with his inexperience. We knew he was bred to run 1600m - 2000m so expected him to hit the line well and he was a genuine chance to finish in the mix and was some sort of genuine each way hope (especially if the favourite didn’t fire). However we could not believe our eyes as we watched the race unfold and witnessed a sensational win.
Facing the starter for the first time from barrier 8 in a field of 14, SPECIFIC CHOICE bungled the start and was slow to begin and after bouncing away, he was last ! That wasn't part of the game plan however we had asked Chris to just allow the horse to be where comfortable and traveling on the bit with cover. Chris rolled over from the barrier and found himself one off the fence, back in 11th spot. The early pace was solid and the field had spread out over more than a dozen lengths with SPECIFIC CHOICE some 10 lengths off the pace but traveling nicely and balanced.
As the field thundered around the home turn, Chris elected to stick to the fence and despite still being back now in 10th position and some 8 – 10 lengths off the leaders, Chris waited until the 400m before starting to urge our big striding galloper to stretch out.
As we watched the race unfold Chris was blocked for a run at the 350m, as he went to switch off the heels of one tiring in front of him and was then stopped in his tracks and had to switch back inside that runner. Again at the 250m, that wayward horse in front of Chris laid in and took that inside run we were angling for so Chris switched direction back to fence.
Still 10th at the 150m, a gap appeared and once he saw daylight SPECIFIC CHOICE was urged along and he went whoosh! The Gai Waterhouse trained Chronicle was the leader at that stage and was 5 lengths in front of our horse and 3 lengths in front of the field.
At the 100m SPECIFIC CHOICE looked like he would run a nice race and pick up a placing however the power that he hit the line was such that he reeled in the 3 lengths break the leader had with 50m to go and in a driving finish, stretched out like a good horse and won ! His last 400m and 200m sectionals were truly awesome.
It seemed an eternity but in reality it was just a few seconds before the judge put up our saddlecloth number.
The roar in the crowd was amazing ! I have been going to Kembla for a lot of years and won many races at the track but "never" have I heard and witnessed such an awe inspiring roar of pure emotion. It sounded like everybody on track had backed him. The roar of the crowd can be clearly heard on television when the number is posted such was the high decibel count.
The scenes were ecstatic as a bewilder, excited, emotional and exhilarated group of owners brought themselves together with high 5's, hugs, kisses and handshakes abounding.
We take this opportunity to sincerely thank our owners who were able to attend; we trust they are now hooked on the adrenalin rush of owning a winning racehorse. For those of our owners who were unable to join us on the day, the future looks bright for your horse and we look forward to visiting the winners circle together in the future.
