Dynamic Syndications “All Ladies” Ownership Team of HARD TO SAY were back in the Winner’s Circle at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Tuesday, when taking out the meetings feature Sprint Race on the programme, the $300,000 Precise Air “CHOISIR” Handicap Benchmark 100.
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Our 4yo gelding HARD TO SAY (Exceed And Excel x Malasun) who was a $160,000 Magic Millions purchase for Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock, was syndicated to an All-Female Ownership Team, and has subsequently taken his overall record to:
16 Starts – 6 Wins: 1 Second: 1 Third & Prizemoney: $472,850.
Winning Distances: 1000m (4), 1050m (1), 1100m (2).
This preparation, HARD TO SAY has strung together Wins at Rosehill, Doomben, Eagle Farm and Randwick and banked $316,500.
This race, known as the “CHOISIR HANDICAP” was a big money event that attracted a strong line-up of sprint competitors, many with stakes performances behind them.
Rosehill 5 August 23
Doomben 26 August 23
Eagle Farm 16 September 23
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Randwick 7 November 23
After HARD TO SAY won his Midway Bm 72 at Rosehill over 1100m on the 5th August, we snuck him up to Doomben for a “gimmie” in the Set Weights Class 3 race on the 26th August, which he won with ease.
Mapping out an ongoing programme, we identified the CHOISIR Handicap on the 7th November at Randwick as an ideal opportunity, but we wanted to arrive there fresh and ready with the race spring boarding him into the Summer races.
To get there we elected to go back to Brisbane at Eagle Farm on the 16th September and raced in a Class 6 Plate where he was thrown in at the weights.
He won again with ease, and after three runs back from the spell including two in Brisbane, we acted on our plan to give him a short let-up in the paddock to rebound off the trips north and regain freshness.
Coming back into work we gave HARD TO SAY the softest trial at Newcastle on the 24th October to keep his fitness levels up. He won that trial with breaking into a sweat, just doing enough to keep him ticking over without much effort.
We had nominated HARD TO SAY for two races at Randwick on Tuesday, over 1000m and 1100m, the 1100m was our target but the 1000m was an insurance plan incase we drew poorly in the Choisir, plus we had a look at Stakes Race over 1000m at Flemington on Thursday.
We chose to stay in Sydney and when acceptances came out, we were in Race 3 over 1000m with 61.0kgs and Race 8 the $300,000 Choisir Hcp and only carrying 53.0kgs in barrier 4. It was perfect for us to run in the Choisir.
We truly believed we could win the Benchmark 100 CHOISIR based upon his light weight of 53.0kgs, although we also believed we could win the 1000m race as well, however it was only our insurance policy race and he had to carry 61.0kgs in the Benchmark 84 1000m. Therefore, it was an easy decision to run at our target race in the CHOISIR for $170,000 to the winner as compared to the $58,000 to the winner of the Benchmark 84.
From the time the gates crashed back until the camera flashed, we were never concerned, and our honest 4yo claimed his sixth win from 16 starts.
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Our jockey Ashley Morgan is a strong rider, and he judges pace very well. He has a great affinity with HARD TO SAY and believes in the horse.
HARD TO SAY is an interesting horse to ride. He can show plenty of toe early and often leads or sits at the girth of the leader. Yet his most impressive win of his to date was when he got back to last over 1000m and stormed home to win by 3.3 lengths.
HARD TO SAY has an electric turn of foot so we wanted to give him every chance stepping up in class.
Ash was asked to be positive but to allow the anticipated speed runners to cross him after a furlong and take the sit tucked in behind the leaders until balancing for the run home. Then stay at least two horses wide away from the fence which had looked “off” all day.
Then as the runners were on their way to the barriers, Jason Deamer was grabbed by Channel 7 for a pre-race interview:
Bruce McAvaney commenced: “Jason Deamer has just joined us, and he’s got a good horse here in HARD TO SAY – he’s on a roll Jason”
Jason Deamer responded: “Yes he’s been going very well of late Bruce, he’s put three together in a row, he’s been very well placed by Dynamic Syndications, and today’s obviously his toughest test, but a good barrier and a nice light weight.”
Jason (Richo) Richardson added in: “Did the development surprise you at all?”
Jason answered: “No, no he’s always shown a bit of ability. When he first started out in two-year-old racing, he was a bit unlucky and ran placings in Listed Races, then he got gelded in his early three year old days. He’s still maturing, but he’s just starting to show his true colours.”
Richo then asked: “What were the instructions to Ash today?”
Jason said: “Make sure he begins well, there looks to be a lot of speed in the race, and just park in behind them, and see what he’s got at the finish.”
Bruce then asked: “So Jason, when did you pick this race out?”
Jason replied: “We picked it out after his win at Doomben.”
Bruce added: “Ok mate, it’s worth a lot of money, and he’s a horse on the rise.”
Richo added: “Great to see you.”
Jason concluded: “Thanks very much.”
Bruce McAvaney concluded: “Jason Deamer there with HARD TO SAY who is not without a hope here and Ash Morgan to ride.”
As the gates clanged back the race panned out perfectly to our anticipated speed map.
HARD TO SAY was away quickly as Recommendation drawn underneath us in barrier 3, pushed forward to control the tempo and Rubiquitous pushed up from barrier 8. That caused second favourite Insurrection from barrier 9 to be trapped 3 deep on pace.
Ash who had allowed the speed battle to unfold, was one pair back, one off the fence, as the favourite Dashing Legend from barrier 2, pushed up to hold the fence on the back of the leader. Ash now had options. He was in the gun spot, tracking the speed with cover, and had the favourite in a pocket to his inside, and had a nice pull in the weights whilst the second favourite was 3 wide on speed.
The race stayed in its established pattern until the field began the swing into the home straight at the 500m marker. Ash then steered HARD TO SAY out 4 deep into the running line as the favourite Dashing Legend was saving ground searching for a gap to the inside.
Rounding the home turn and balancing up for the run home, only bad luck would see our horse not win from here.
Ash had a tight hold on HARD TO SAY as he cruised up to the leaders at the 300m. HARD TO SAY then dropped Rubiquitous quickly, and he worked past Insurrection. Then he set about reeling in the leader Recommendation.
Ash moved up to be eyeballing the leader who was fighting back hard. HARD TO SAY was starting to do his customary stargazing at the infield screen and the outside grandstands. So, at the 150m Ash pushed the “go-button” and HARD TO SAY lengthened stride beautifully. He only gave him a few bits of encouragement and swept to the lead by the 100m.
Over the final 100m Ash rode just hands and heels as our Dynamic Duo whizzed past the post a length clear of the runner up and over 2 lengths in front of the third placed runner.
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$300,000 PRECISE AIR “CHOISIR” Benchmark 100 Hcp (1100m), 11 Runners. First = $170,000.
On a Good 4 surface, HARD TO SAY ran a Time of: 1:03.58 with a Last 600m: 34.40 secs.
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HARD TO SAY 4yo gelding (Exceed And Excel / Malasun) trained by Jason Deamer and ridden by Ashley Morgan (53.0kgs) $11 won by 0.94 length defeating RECOMMENDATION (Shalaa / Adviso) trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace and ridden by Regan Bayliss (57.0kgs) $9.50 and third 2.12 lengths away went to DASHING LEGEND (Snitzel / Kneeling) trained by Joe Pride and ridden by Chad Schofield (54.0kgs) $2.10 Fav.
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Job Done!
There were scenes of exhilaration in the Owners Section at Randwick over the final 150m because it was obvious that HARD TO SAY would be winning. As he crossed the line the excitement bubbled over as Owners bear hugged, back slapped, and cuddled with emotion.
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Jason was grabbed for interviews with both Channel 7 and Sky Channel as Ash returned to scale with a huge grin before he was also grabbed for an interview on Sky Channel.
POST-RACE Commentary – Channel 7 kicked off with Jason:
Bruce McAvany started by saying: “Oh Richo, can we pick them! Jason Deamer there, that was fantastic, we are just going to grab Jason.”
Richo started by saying: “Jason, what a day for you and what a day for Newcastle in general.”
Bruce chimed in by adding: “What a thrill to win the ‘Choisir’ on Big Dance Day!”
An excited Jason Deamer said: “Yeah it sure is Bruce, gee he was travelling lovely through the run, he was just poking along minding his own business, and he just peeled out around the corner. I didn’t want to go (the early crow) too early myself, but his last 200m was very good, Yeah, no weight on his back, just great to see.”
Bruce then asked Jason: “What is the biggest race you have won as a trainer?”
Jason answered: “I used to look after Lovely Jubbly back in the day, back when I was younger, but now I’m a bit older I can get to enjoy it a bit more.”
Richo added: “That’s a Big One, a $300,000 race, it’s such a significant one!”
Jason replied: “Yeah, I’m especially happy for Dynamic Syndications, they have been a big backer of mine, for the last five or so years, and they are great to work for, and yeah, just a great group of people.”
Bruce McAvany concluded: “Go and enjoy mate, it’s going to be a lovely drive back to Newcastle. Good on you!”
Richo added: “Well done, great to be with you today mate. Well done.”
Bruce McAvaney signed off by saying: “HARD TO SAY, hey that was a Big Win.”
The excitement of the owners was understandable. HARD TO SAY had just put a picket fence beside his name in the racebook with four fantastic wins in a row and importantly, it was a huge prize cheque as our owners took home $170,000.
It’s always fabulous winning races but this race was a feature race on a day where everybody’s attention was upon racing.
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Next: Greg Radley from SKY CHANNEL interviewed JASON:
Greg Radley: “HARD TO SAY makes it four out of four this time in, unbeaten since a spell. Number 14 HARD TO SAY in the Dynamic Syndications colours, for Ash Morgan and Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer, will beat Recommendation, but HARD TO SAY and Ash Morgan, a well-deserved big day for Ash Morgan to be here and win on Cup Day.
Ron Dufficy added; “Yeah and what a job he’s done!, Four straight this preparation, and kept nice and fresh after those three wins, and probably set for this race worth a bit of money, and knew they were going to get in light, and boy-oh-boy, you have to be impressed with the way he sprinted to the line there, so he’s in career best form no doubt about it, Recommendation looked like he was pulling enough out there but the winner was too strong late, the favourite was out in enough time there and should improve off that , but gee this winner is absolutely flying!”
Greg Radley spoke again: “Number 14, HARD TO SAY, Ash Morgan, too good, from number 10 Recommendation, Regan Baylis, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, number 11 the favourite Dashing Legend has run third, Chad Schofield and Joe Pride. 63.58 (1:03.58) and 34.4 the last 600m and here’s the trainer Jason Deamer who’s got HARD TO SAY absolutely flying, four in a row!”
Jason then spoke: “Yeah that was really good Greg, obviously he’s just flying at the moment, and it’s just all about confidence, I think. He won the Midway, then he went to Brisbane a couple of times and won up there, then his trial the other week at Newcastle, although he didn’t run flash time or anything, it just looked like he was airborne, and just that little break after Brisbane did him the world of good, he’s just that little bit stronger and yeah, it just all about confidence I think.”
Greg Radley added: “Yeah, he put them away today.”
Jason replied: “Yeah, it was very good to see, that’s why when speaking to Adam Watt (Dynamic Syndications), we always talk a lot. I talk to him more than I talk to my wife! but yeah, thought we would have a crack, the horse is flying, no weight on his back, and Ashley Morgan was prepared to loose a little bit of weight to stick with him, so it all worked out very well.”
Greg Radley then said: “Well Dynamic have been your biggest supporters.”
Jason said: “Yes definitely over the last 5 or 6 years, they have come on board, they threw me a bone and I took it, so I improved the first one and they have continued to support me multiple times since, and it’s just great to return on the big push-up they have done for me, and they help me in other ways too, not just in horses.”
Greg then stated: “He’ll get up in the ratings now, so you have got to look for something else.”
Jason responded: “Yeah it’s a good problem to have. Thank you very much.”
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Greg Radley then turned his commentary to Sky Channel host Chantelle Buckley who was ready to interview Ash Morgan: “Ash Morgan with a big city winner here at Royal Randwick.”
Chantelle said: “Indeed, congratulations Ash, you went up to Brisbane twice, rode him, trialled him the other day, gee he found the line for you today.”
Ash Morgan responded: “Yeah, look he did, he’s been so good to me, went up to Brisbane and had a lot of luck together and I always said to Jason, if he can take his homework into raceday he’s got a big prize in him, because he’s electric at home. When Tommy (Insurrection) landed in the three-deep line, I was happy, I was in the one-one, giving ourselves some options, and I know he takes a few strides to level up when he straightens, but he just went to them on the bridle, and now he’s got a bit older, he still floats a bit when he gets there, but that’s as good as he has ever been.”
Chantelle then said: “You were sitting pretty at the 300m mark, you must have been pretty confident?”
Ash said: “I was, yeah I was, because I just know he was full of running and the turn of foot he has, so yeah, he was great - he was great. It’s been a long time since I made 53.0kgs, since I was 18, and I’m not 18 anymore. Thanks”
CONGRATULATIONS to our ALL-LADIES Ownership Team that race HARD TO SAY: Dynamic Ladies (Mgr: Mrs. F Watt), Mrs. C Freeman, Mrs. A T Woollett, Mrs. B A Reid, Mrs. K Corby, Mrs. H Corby.
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This Win by HARD TO SAY recorded Dynamic Syndications 851st Race Win Overall.
Hard to Say - Winner 7.11.23 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
It was our 23rd Race Win of this New Racing Season.
ASH MORGAN has developed a terrific relationship with HARD TO SAY riding him in 6 races for 4 Wins.
A natural speedball, and quicksilver over short trips, we are keen to step HARD TO SAY back up to 1200m or even 1300m where, the way he is racing suggests he will be even more effective, as does his pedigree genetics.
There are not many lower hanging fruit options available now for our son of Exceed and Excel as his new Benchmark rating of 91 see's him being forced to compete in stakes races going forward.
Onwards and Upwards – Forever Forward!