Dynamic Syndications added yet another feature Country Cup to our ever growing collection on Sunday, when our galloper FALCON ISLAND (5yo Bay Gelding by Harbour Watch ex Strathspey) trained by Australia’s first lady of racing Gai Waterhouse and her co-trainer Adrian Bott dominated the field in TRACK RECORD TIME to secure the $75,000 Coonamble Cup 1600m feature event.
Falcon Island lumping a top weight of 61.0kgs in the 12 horse field was far too strong for the “Best of the West” under the guidance of jet pilot Rory Hutchings.
Falcon Island was low level flying down the home straight to secure a big win over eventual runner-up Free Billy (54.0kgs) and a further ½ length away third went to Magic Over The Bay (55.0kgs).
Displaying typical Waterhouse and Bott bone and muscle, Falcon Island was able to be eased down over the concluding stages for a soft win, yet still posted a widening 2½ lengths margin, carrying top-weight of 61.0kgs when claiming the Geronimo – New Holland Agriculture Coonamble Cup in a new track record time of 1:34.36.
FALCON ISLAND slashed 0.30 secs (approx. 2.2 lengths) off the existing track record that JUERGA had set in the same race back in 2006 (13 years earlier).
After acceptances, it was a race on paper that revealed a speed map where there would be plenty of early speed.
We gave Rory instructions that our horse would lead if he wanted to take control however if they attack him with a silly pace in front, just take a sit trailing the speed.
As the gates crashed back, Falcon Island was quickly into stride however local horse Cowboys Karma with local rider Ken Dunbar, set a suicidal, early tempo and carried the field along whilst Rock Sonic tried to go with it but simply couldn’t, settling 2 lengths off the leader.
Rory was giggling at the pace being set up front for the first 200m, so he elected to ease and sit two lengths off the leader on the fence in fourth spot, with Bravissimo in 3rd spot at our girth.
Then as they passed the 1200m ex Dynamic castoff Chilcotin’s rider decided it wanted to have a crack at the lead. Passing the 1100m, they had sorted themselves out with Cowboys Karama leading a length over Rock Sonic with a length back to Chilcotin sitting third and one length to Falcon Island sitting fourth, 3 lengths off the leader with Bravissimo a further half a length off Falcon Island.
At the 800m, the field had stayed in their positions but it was here that Rory angled Falcon Island off the fence to avoid being caught in a pocket later on.
At the 500m as the field started to turn into the home straight, Rory angled to be 3 deep around the two leaders as they started to yield. At the 450m Rory pushed the go button on Falcon Island and as the field swung into the home straight, at the 400m mark Falcon Island was eyeballing the leaders and then swept passed them with ease.
At the 300m Falcon Island was a length in front which increased to 2 lengths at the 200m.
At the 150m there was no dangers coming out of the pack and Rory was able to keep the momentum going without pressure and at the 50m Rory was able to sit up in the saddle and allowed Falcon Island to roll along to the post.
Rory returned Falcon Island to the winner’s circle amongst a thunderous round of applause, as the clear favourite had easily saluted.
There had been a Cup Calcutta in town the night before where Falcon Island was the one the punters clearly wanted bidding up to $5,500. So there was plenty of locals that had put their hard earned on the Gai and Adrian trained Falcon Island.
After returning to the Winner’s circle, Rory Hutchins spoke to Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Mick Wallace where Rory made it clear that were no doubts about this result saying, “in the lead-up to the race Falcon Island was '100%' the best horse on paper and that was how it panned out.”
Rory Hutchings
"The only concern coming here today was having only a few days on the back up, he only raced on Monday and there was a six (actually seven) hour float trip down, but knowing Gai is half the effort and he showed he was the best horse in the race," Rory said.
Hutchings said he was mindful of the amount of speed contained within the other barriers and was looking to avoid a speed battle with Cowboys Karma or Rock Sonic.
"I let a few go, I always had that in the back of my mind Ken Dunbar's horse (Cowboy’s Karma) it doesn't know anything else and Jake Pracey-Holmes, he was always going to make her work (Rock Sonic), so I was happy to just peel off their backs and get past them at the top of the straight."
While not the most lucrative trophy Dynamic Syndications has ever claimed, the $35,250 dollar first place finish in this country cup made travelling the long way out to Coonamble worthwhile.
Rory joked saying he was so far west that, “I thought the next town was going to be Perth if I kept going but it was all made worthwhile.”
Gai Waterhouse, wasn't trackside to witness the win, but added her congratulations soon afterwards on social media, tweeting “From the Bathurst Cup to the Newcastle Cup to the Port Macquarie Cup & onto the Coonamble Cup! It's been a successful few months for us in these rich Country Cups & we couldn't be more proud of the lovely Falcon Island today at Coonamble!”
Dean Watt, Adrian Bott & Adam Watt at Coolmore Stud
Co-Trainer Adrian Bott was with Team Dynamic and 150 of our Dynamic Syndications owners who had been invited to a VIP Private Stallion Parade at Coolmore Stud during the day.
Dynamic Owners at our VIP Open Day at COOLMRE STUD Sunday 13-10-19
On our way home from Coolmore, a couple of busloads - 100 of our owners pulled over at the Twin Service Stations near Wyong, so we could all watch and listen to the Cup on our phones. The roar from the carpark was so loud, it wouldn’t have been a surprise had they heard us at Coonamble, especially as our owners were encouraged to have an investment which most took our advice.
FALCON ISLAND has taken his career record to:
15 starts: 4:2:1 and Prizemoney of $133,720 with wins at 1550m (1) and 1600m (3).
Having resumed after a 13 month spell due to injury, Falcon Island this preparation has raced 5 occasions for this win, plus a second at Canterbury, fourth at Warwick Farm and fifth at Kensington and has banked $53,300.
Falcon Island - Sunday 13 October from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
ABOVE: Race Replay
Congratulations to our Dynamic Owners of FALCON ISLAND on winning the CONAMBLE CUP:
Dynamic Syndications Racing Synd, Mr P A Craig, Mrs A T Woollett, Mrs K Tew, Mr J P Kelly, Ms C M Hicks, Mr R C Borg, Mr M R Allan, Ms J D McGuffie, Mr D R Zahnleiter, Mrs A M Williamson, Mr R C Brown, Mr L A Lindsell, Mr J Yianni, Mr M B Seigel, Mr G J Underhill, Mr T Cottam, Stolk Racing Synd, T P Racing Synd
Onwards and Upwards !