HARD TO SAY Wins at Rosehill for Dynamic Deamer as Zac Lloyd Outrides Claim

07 Aug 23

“Go to the front and improve on your position” was not our Plan A tactics for HARD TO SAY in Race 2 at Rosehill on Saturday 5th August, however that’s how the race panned out and as a result, the Dynamic Syndications All Ladies Ownership galloper was brilliantly quick throughout to claim the 1100m Benchmark 72 event for Team Dynamic’s “go too” Provincial trainer JASON DEAMER at Newcastle.

HARD TO SAY winning Race 2 the MIDWAY Hcp at Rosehill 5-8-23

This was also Jason Deamer’s first Sydney Saturday Midway Handicap success.

Dynamic Trainer JASON DEAMER (Newcastle)

HARD TO SAY under Zac Lloyd’s ride recorded the fastest last 600m sectional of the 10-race programme coming home in 34.27 which was 0.02 secs faster than I AM ME when she won the Gr2 Missile. Overall HARD TO SAY ran a slick 1:04.17 for the 1100m on a Winter 4 surface that had a bit of juice in it. That was just 0.33 outside the Class Record set in 2017.

It was also this incredibly well-judged ride by boom apprentice Zac Lloyd that resulted in Zac recording his 80th Race Win and as a result, he has out-ridden his 1.5 kg claim from this date forward.

Contrary to his pre-race riding instructions, Zac sent HARD TO SAY to the front and the Dynamic four-year-old gelding led throughout to record a first-up win.

HARD TO SAY (59.0kgs carried 57.5kgs) ($6.50) defeated Xpresso (59.5kgs) ($9) by 0.54 length with Ningaloo Star (56.5kgs) ($6.50) 1.11 lengths back in third.

HARD TO SAY 4yo geld (by EXCEED AND EXCEL from MALASUN – Red Ransom) was a $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from Eureka Stud.

His career record is now 13 starts: 3-1-1-2 and Prizemoney: $211,350

He has also been 2nd in the Phelan Ready S., LR and 4th in the Breeders Plate Gr3 whilst 2 of his 3 wins have been Metropolitan Saturday grade.

Co-Owners Annie Woollett & Cherie Freeman at the yearling sales after purchasing HARD TO SAY

CONGRATULATIONS to our ALL LADIES Team that Own & Race HARD TO SAY: Dynamic Ladies Synd (Mgr Mrs F Watt), Mrs C Freeman, Mrs A T Woollett, Mrs B A Reid, Mrs K Corby, Mrs H Corby

Pre-race, after scratchings we had drawn wide in barrier 9 of 11 runners. HARD TO SAY is a bit of an enigma. He can be a real Jekyll and Hyde on raceday, and we never truly know which one will turn up race by race. He can also tend to get along a bit fierce in front, so from the wide draw, we were hopeful that he would jump away and not get too aggressive. Then Zac could work over from out wide and get a trail in behind something. We didn’t mind if we landed worse than mid-field or even got back to last, as long as he had cover because we know he can deliver an amazing last 600m sprint.

Plan A went out the window as soon as the gates crashed back. HARD TO SAY bounded out of the boxes and after 25 metres was a head in front.

Zac was not in a position to go back as HARD TO SAY wanted to get running and at this stage, he was 5-deep on pace. Zac still held a tight grip.

Passing the 1000m marker, runner-up Xpresso who had drawn outside us, came up to eyeball HARD TO SAY whilst Rachel King on Oceans One kicked up hard underneath us in an attempt to fire our horse up and she wanted to lead the fence.

At the 900m Zac was having none of that nonsense, so asked HARD TO SAY for a spurt to cross to lead on the fence. Xpresso dropped back but Rachel went with us trying to bring us undone but in the process, that aggressive stance only bought herself and her horse undone.

Passing the 800m, HARD TO SAY had his opposition spread out over a dozen lengths as Rachel kept her handlebars down, desperately trying to keep in touch.

HARD TO SAY was now full of running passing the 600m but had been annoyed throughout whilst the chasing brigade had an easy time of it, watching Rachel serve it up to HARD TO SAY .

Zac slipped HARD TO STAY a little rein as the Dynamic Duo thundered around the home turn and at that point slipped 2 lengths in front of Oceans One who quickly "burst like a pricked balloon."

Having gone so fast and having been annoyed the whole way, especially first up from a spell, HARD TO SAY was also entitled to be out of gas and begin to tie up in lactic acid.

However, our horse showed courage and strength and that he was in for a fight.

At the 300m Xpresso who had the perfect sit throughout the race started to improve to the outside and had gone past Oceans One and was now only a length behind us full of momentum.

It was here Zac Lloyd showed his class and natural riding talent. He just kidded to HARD TO SAY from the 300m for 90m to the 210m before he got urgent with his riding, asking our horse to fight.

It was at this point that the roar of connections could be heard on track as we urged HARD TO SAY along as we could see our Dynamic Duo were in for the fight

Courageously, HARD TO SAY rallied and got back to a length in front with 150m to go.

Then with 100m to go Xpresso had got as close as 1/2 length margin but had hit the wall and could do no better as his run had come to its end.

HARD TO SAY returning to the Winner's Circle

HARD TO SAY who had been polished to perfection by JASON DEAMER leading into the race was strong to the line and actually increased his winning margin over the last 20 metres for a 0.54 length victory. Xpresso was being ridden along to maintain second spot, over Ningaloo Star who eventually finished 1.11 lengths away in third.

ZAC LLOYD returns for the 80th time to the Winners Circle

ZAC is all smiles having outridden his apprentice's claim

This had been a courageous effort by HARD TO SAY. To have been annoyed from barrier to post and run such a super quick time, first-up from a spell, and the fastest last 600m race time of the day.

A very happy trainer - Jason Deamer

In the Sky Channel post-race interview Jason Deamer said: "It wasn't the plan to ride him like that. We said to Zac to ride the horse where he's comfortable, but we expected him to be somewhere back around midfield. We actually said if you're last don't worry about, just wherever he's comfortable. That ride sums Zac up to a tee. He just rides the horse and rides the race and horses run for him. He's a real talent."

Dynamic Syndications principal Dean Watt was interviewed by The Herald’s Chris Roots and asked about Zac’s ride. He was full of praise after Zac went to Plan B when Hard To Say jumped best.

Co- Owner & Manager FIONA WATT with Dean Watt - Dynamic Syndications

“The plan was to be back but when he put himself there, Zac just rode his race. That’s why he is so good because he makes decisions quickly,” Watt said.

Dean & Fiona Watt, Adam Watt & Jason Deamer

A Dynamic Team - Fiona & Dean Watt, Zac Lloyd, Jason Deamer & Adam Watt

Zac’s victory aboard Hard To Say summed up the confidence the young man is riding with.

After the post-race reports to connections and then the press, Zac was interviewed about his achievement to outride his claim so quickly.

"It was good to get it done early," (outride claim) Zac said.

"I went through it quite quickly which can be a bit of a worry but it's a good problem to have and hopefully the support continues.

"It's every apprentice's goal when you first start, lucky I've done it quickly and didn't have to worry much about getting the job done.

"Hopefully I can keep the confidence going and in the next few weeks sustain those rides and keep those connections up."

This was a wonderful way for the Team at DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS to Open up the New 2023-24 Racing Season by winning with our first Metropolitan Runner of the year. Having clocked up 58 Race Wins last season with our horses, we were now on the scoreboard.

It was also a milestone in two respects – JASON DEAMER training his first MIDWAY Winner and ZAC LLOYD ridding his 80th winner and outriding his claim.

Winners are Grinners - Co-Owner Fiona Watt (Dynamic Syndications) enjoys the celebration

Hard To Say - Rosehill Winner 5.8.23 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.

In what proved to be a DYNAMIC DAY at Rosehill, our other runner on the day I AM ME would come out and win race 8, the Gr2 Missile Stakes, producing the ultimate DYNAMIC DUO for our team.

Onwards & Upwards - Forever Forward!