HARD TO SAY All The Way in CLASS RECORD Win for DYNAMIC DEAMER

29 Apr 24

WOW: let’s take stock before we start to wax lyrical on what was witnessed on Saturday at Rosehill.

Too Slick - HARD TO SAY breaks Benchmark 94 1100m CLASS RECORD winning at Rosehill

•   Dynamic Syndications Trainer JASON DEAMER presented
   HARD TO SAY in fantastic order to record our 4yo’s
     7th Win in 21 starts

•   In the process, this win by HARD TO SAY was DYNAMIC
     SYNDICATIONS 50th Race Win for the current season, which is
      now at the three-quarter stage with 3 months of the 2023-24 racing
      season remaining, and it was also our 878th race win overall

•   HARD TO SAY had to lump Top Weight of 59.5kgs and jumped from
      the widest barrier in a 12-horse field. He spotted the runner-up
8.0kgs (a 5.3 lens disadvantage), the third horse 7.0kgs (a 4.6 lens
      disadvantage) and the fourth horse 6.5kgs (a 4.3 lens disadvantage).
      Under handicapping conventions, each 1.5 kgs weight differential
      is considered to equal approx a 1 length distance disadvantage

•   HARD TO SAY led throughout and ran 1:03.19 breaking the previous
Class Record standard of 1:03.24 and ran home in sizzling 33.81

•   Our jockey NASH RAWILLER was at his brilliant best on the
      testing track surface to take the race by the scruff of the neck after just the
      first 20 metres. HARD TO SAY was the first of his winning treble on the day

•   HARD TO SAY owned by a co-ownership team of All Ladies, was a
   $160,000 Magic Millions purchase and has now won $653,000

•   HARD TO SAY Stakes performances:
      2nd 2024 TAB Southern Cross Stakes (Gr.3);
      2nd 2021 Eureka Stud Phelan Ready (LR);
      3rd 2024 Liverpool City Cup (Gr.3);
      4th 2021 Breeders Plate (Gr3).

•   HARD TO SAY career record:
      21 Starts = 7 Wins, 2 Seconds, 2 Thirds, 2 Fourths & $653,000
Good: 18:7-2-1 Soft: 2:0-0-1 Heavy: 1:0-0-0
Dist: 1000m (3),    1050m (1),    1100m (3)

•   Six of his Seven Wins have been Metro Saturday Class:
      Rosehill (2), Randwick, Eagle Farm, Doomben,
      Sunshine Coast (Stand-alone Saturday) & Wyong

Team Dynamic and their All Ladies Ownership Team and their trainer Jason Deamer all knew that a firm track is the secret to smart sprinter HARD TO SAY, and he made the most of it at Rosehill on Saturday.

Despite HARD TO SAY being sent out at $10, Deamer’s confidence levels were high due to finally getting back on a firm track, and he was proven right as his sprinter made all to win.

Team Dynamic were always positive that Jason Deamer had HARD TO SAY in peak condition for Saturday’s assignment at Rosehill, our collective hearts sunk when the acceptors were released, and we had received Barrier 15 of 15 acceptors.

Statistics state you can’t win from those wide barriers, and we immediately looked for alternatives.

The only race we possibly had available would be the following Saturday in the Gold Rush LR 1100m at Hawkesbury. Adam Watt from Dynamic Syndications did the immediate ring around to see what riders were available and discovered that there were very slim pickings remaining.

Next, we looked at both the seven and ten day weather forecasts to discover it was potentially a very wet week ahead leading into the 4th May Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting and HARD TO SAY doesn’t like rain affected ground.

Then we identified there should be at least 2 scratchings from the Rosehill race which did come out on Friday and another on Saturday morning leaving a field of 12 to face the starter.

With the Rosehill track having had a few weeks layoff and the rail back in the true position, and having not had any rain for a few weeks, historically that would favour on pace horses, in particular leaders on the fence.

The speed map for our race was looking ugly. There were four horses drawn underneath us whose racing patterns suggested that they would push forward and trap us out 5 deep, so we would need to use a lot off petrol early to get across the face of the field or we would need to come back a couple of pairs and hope to get some luck to slot in finding cover.

After knowing the pitfalls of running and the dilemma in waiting for Hawkesbury, and with our target race being his next start, the Ortensia 1100m LR at Scone on the 18th May over their carnival, we needed to get another foundation run into him, so we elected to run at Rosehill despite knowing the disadvantages we were facing.

On the positive side, we were sliding a fair way back in class.

He had won a Benchmark 100 grade race at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, then had run 5th in the $1m Magic Millions Sprint to King Of Sparta, followed by being runner-up to subsequent Gr1 winner Lady Laguna in the Gr3 Southern Cross 1200m. Then he was a close-up 3rd in the Gr3 Liverpool City Cup 1300m on a Soft 5, before his last start on a Soft 6 surface in the Maurice McCarten Gr3 1100m where he wasn’t happy in the rain affected ground finishing 6th but was only 1.62 lengths away.

HARD TO SAY had been freshened-up with this Rosehill race in mind and as a Benchmark 93 horse in a Benchmark 94 race we knew he would be at the top of the weights but was facing a much easier assignment here compared to what he has been tackling his past 6 races.

So off to Rosehill we went to run in Race 7, the Farewell James Ross Sprint Handicap.

Watching the day’s racing unfold, what was clear was the track wasn’t playing as experts predicted. It was the total opposite. The fence was notably slower, and riders wanted nothing to do with it. The traditional advantages to leaders were gone, and it became a swoopers day. The winners were coming from well back and were very wide on the track. Race after race the pattern was the same.

As our race arrived, it was clear the last place you wanted to be was the leader. You wanted cover and being wide out to the middle of the track or wider again.

Nash came out of the jockey’s room and instead of suggesting a tactical game plan to Nash we just asked: “Okay mate, you have been riding this track, what would you like to do?”

Nash smiled and said: “Well you don’t have to go early on this today. I’m happy to tuck in and get a trail, the draw isn’t so bad now because you have to be out 5-6 deep on the crown of the track at a minimum. How does that suit you?”

We replied: “We agree. Mate we will leave it to you to see how you want to ride the race. No point having a specific game plan today, just ride it as you find it, just go out and win it for us!”

Nash responded inquisitively: “What if he jumps and the others take hold looking for something to be a leader?”

It was like Nash was asking for permission to lead if that opportunity presented.

So, we responded: “Mate totally your call, sum it up and do what you think suits you and our horse as it unfolds. It is totally your call.”

That bought a cheeky grin to Nash as he walked out to hop on board HARD TO SAY.

Looking a treat in the parade, we were confident that our horse would run well, but racing is a sport, not a business, and things have to unfold for horses to win races.

HARD TO SAY (59.5kgs) was top weight, and the last to load into barrier 12 and then as the gates crashed back, the field flew the machine as one. With natural gatespeed, HARD TO SAY wanted to attack the lead and after 50m, he was a half-length in front of the pack, but wide.

At the 1000m marker, HARD TO SAY had established a clear length lead, with Nash having a tight hold on our horse, stopping him from going further in front as the field settled into positions.

As Nash had predicted, the obvious leaders were holding-up to get a position. Race favourite and expected leader Kazou (52.5kgs) wanted to push up from barrier 10 to hold us wide, but then didn’t attack the lead, rather it appeared to want to follow HARD TO SAY.

Renosu (58.5kgs) from barrier 9 held its forward position to find the one / one spot, on the back of Kazou, whilst How’s The Serenity (57.0kgs) barrier 4, wanted to be positive but couldn’t match the early speed of HARD TO SAY and slipped into the trailing position one back the fence, whilst eventual runner-up Manhood (51.5kgs) from barrier 5, settled in fifth spot, two pairs back tracking the speed.

Passing the 900m marker before starting the turn out of the back straight, Nash slipped HARD TO SAY a little rein and our horse moved up quickly to cross towards the rail and pick up a two-length gap. Then Kazou went to follow us but couldn’t match the natural talent of HARD TO SAY and elected to trail our horse, whilst others just held their established positions.

Nothing changed positions as the field swept down the side and on the point of the turn. Nash then gave HARD TO SAY a little more rein and they slipped 3 lengths clear of the pack with only Kazou in close attendance. The trailing two runners, How’s The Serenity and Renosu both burst like pricked balloons at the 300m and dropped out, and eventual runner-up Manhood angled out to be the widest runner 3 lengths off the leaders.

At the 250m Kazou despite having the massive 7.0kgs (equals 4.6 lengths advantage) pull in the weights, was under enormous pressure but had worked up to eyeball HARD TO SAY and Nash.

Nash pushed the “go button” and HARD TO SAY responded with class, and accelerating, he found a length. With 100m remaining HARD TO SAY had broken the heart of Kazou but then Manhood chimed in out wide, as per the pattern of the day.

Manhood was only carrying 51.5kgs and had been given a lovely ride and done no work and was in the best part of the track. With that 8.0kgs (5.3 lengths advantage) pull in the weights, he was flying home and with 50m remaining had claimed Kazou and was trying to attack HARD TO SAY.

However, cream rises to the top, and despite having done all the work in front with the big weight, HARD TO SAY should have been a sitting duck but Nash and our horse showed their courageous qualities. With 30m to go our horse was running on fumes, as to be expected, but Nash had summed things up and knew he was home, so he was able to idle down and ride hands and heels to the line.

When the camera flashed, a time of 1:03.19 was semaphored on the screen. This time had broken the previous Class Record set by Andermatt on 18 February 2023 of 1:03.24 when it carried 57.5kgs.

A brilliant tactical ride by Nash who took the race by the scruff of the neck in the first 50 metres matched by the class and courage of HARD TO SAY proved too honest and too strong.

JOB DONE!

Sky Channel’s Ron Dufficy summed up the race as the horses were pulling up: “It turned into a real on-pace affair there. Nash won it at the start. He’s just such a genuine horse, he just didn’t have enough time to freshen up last time, he had more time this time, 42 days, this is his pet distance I feel, and he showed really good fight. So, Jason’s done a really good job with this horse, all honours to the winner. Nash Rawiller - what a terrific ride.”

Next Greg Radley for Sky Channel interviewed our trainer Jason Deamer post-race and started by saying “Well done Jason, this horse is doing a great job.”

Jason responded: “Yeah, he’s been very good for the stable. The first yearling Dynamic (Syndications) ever gave me to start with, and he’s just been a superstar ever since the start. He’s always shown us a lot, and he’s really just come along the last year. He’s really started to put it all together, and a few wins in Brisbane, he’s been a bit unlucky in a couple of these Gr3 races. So just a bit of a freshen-up and just that touch back in grade, and he’s been too good.”

Greg Radley then said, “He had been running really well in much tougher company.”

Jason replied, “Yeah that’s right, and it was good to get Nash on board. Obviously from out there (barrier 12 of 12), we just said, “you do your thing” and he did his thing!

"He (Nash) had that look in his eye, and said “Well - if he jumps?” Well, we just said, “you do what you want to do,” and as soon as they jumped, we looked (at each other) and said “well we are going forward.” That’s why Nash is one of the best, and just leave it up to him.”

Greg Radley then asked, “what will you do now?”

Jason answered in three weeks time there are a few options, there is Scone the Ortensia Stakes ($200,000 LR 1100m) up there, or a stakes races in Melbourne ($175,000 Straight Six at Flemington 1200m LR) and then in Brisbane (11 May ATC Cup Sunshine Coast 1200m LR or the 25 May 1110m Chief De Beers LR) to consider.

That’s why it wasn’t ideal today to run from the wide barrier, but to be ready for the next assignment we needed to, and the way the track has ended up playing today, everything has worked out well. It’s been a good day and a big thank you to Dynamic Syndications.”

Jason Deamer also said to the press: “Hard To Say was fifth to King Of Sparta in the Snippets Sprint at the Magic Millions, and runner-up to Lady Laguna in the Southern Cross Stakes at the beginning of the autumn. He had a couple of runs on soft ground after that, and he is just not as good on those sorts of soft tracks. He likes firm tracks, and when it got to a good rating here, I knew he would be hard to beat.

“He is a good horse on good tracks, and we might go to the Ortensia Stakes at Scone provided we get the right track.”

After weighing-in Nash was interviewed by Corey Brown, with Corey saying: “Well done Nasher - you just took control of that race from the start.”

Nash said: “Yeah there was no real urgency from anyone, and my bloke obviously came here nice and fresh and ready to run well. And it gave me a bit of confidence when the boss was here today, Dean, I haven’t seen him for a while, so I thought something was going on here!”

“Obviously, Jase does a great job with these horses, and he has had him really forward to come here today and run well. I think the horse’s class shone through late, but he (HARD TO SAY) was getting a bit tired.”

Corey then asked, “Did you feel the winner all the way through?”

Nash said “I did yeah, I was confident. I cuddled him as long as I could, and at the 250m, it was going to be do or die, he was either going to find me a length or not. You know the good ones give you that length and they generally hold on.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller also added: “It was a good tough win because he was there to get beaten at the 100m, and he just dug in and was too good.”

Nash was on fire on Saturday and had worked the track out perfectly. He completed a hat-trick of wins with HARD TO SAY, then Waterford the middle leg of his treble and Let'srollthedice.

He had also ridden a brace at Randwick's Anzac Day meeting and is now on 65 city wins for the season, just three wins behind leader, James McDonald who is trying to win a sixth consecutive title.

Nash said, “The premiership is something I would love to win again, particularly at my age (49) and after winning my third title 10 years ago." Rawiller said.

"At this stage, I was planning to have some time off in July, but if I'm a chance for the premiership I will be going hard to try and win it."

Straight to the front and improve on your position! HARD TO SAY wins the Farewell James Ross Sprint.

Hard To Say - Winner 27.4.24 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.

Race 7 - FAREWELL JAMES ROSS SPRINT (1100m) Of $160,000.1st $82,500. Benchmark 94, Hcp
Track Condition: Good 4 Time: 1:03.19 Last 600m: 33.81. Class Record.

HARD TO SAY - 4yo Bay Gelding by EXCEED AND EXCEL from MALASUN

Summary: 21-7:2:2 Prizemoney incl. Bonus: $653,000

Dynamic Ladies Synd (Mgr Mrs F Watt), Mrs C Freeman,
Mrs A T Woollett, Mrs B A Reid, Mrs K Corby, Mrs H Corby.

1st of 12 RHIL 27Apr24 1100m Good4 BM94 $160,000 ($82,500) Nash Rawiller 59.5kg Bar 12 Rtg 93 2nd Manhood 51.5kg, 3rd Kazou 52.5kg 1:03.19 (600m 33.81), 0.38L, 1st@800m, 1st@400m, $8.50/$9/$9.50/$10

ONWARDS & UPWARDS - FOREVER FORWARD!