HOOKHAM Delivers at First Race for New Dynamic Trainer Darrell Burnet

21 Oct 24

Impressive young country-based trainer Darrell Burnet at Wagga has become a Team Member of Dynamic Syndications and we have recently sent a few horses to the Riverina area to continue their racing careers.

The first of these to go to the sport having transferred from Sydney is Dynamic Syndications 4yo gelding HOOKHAM (Exceed And Excel x Dame Margot Fonteyne) who broke through for his Maiden win over 1600m at Wagga on Saturday.

Whilst our supporters and connections were at the races at Randwick, Darrell saddled up his first runner wearing our silks and with Patrick Scorse in the saddle, our new Riverina based team members went to work securing a tough win over 1600m on a Heavy 8 surface.

HOOKHAM won Race 2, NETBALL NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION Maiden Handicap (1600m)

Well prepared by Darrell, Pat gave Hookham (56.5kgs) ($5.50) a terrific steer and they combined to out tough the opposition to record a 0.45 length win over Shady Lover (55.0kgs) ($11) with third 2.02 lengths away going to Himeros (55.0kgs) ($6) and the $2.15 favourite It’sreel was 2.8 lengths fourth.

Hookham was all legs, and the wheels were spinning in the boggy ground, but was simply too strong for his peers.

He had been a bit cantankerous behind the barriers and he was a bit stroppy and he wanted to get things going when loaded in from barrier 1, as it took some time for the race to get underway.

When the starter let them go, Hookham was out well and there was speed from Shady Lover who crossed to the lead with the favourite It’sreel at its girth. Hookham sat third the fence and Himeros sat at our girth in the one/one spot, with the leaders getting away with soft sectionals on the Heavy 8 deck.

Nothing changed mid race until the 500m when a bit of pressure came into the event as swoopers out wide moved up to make a line of 4 in front, as the field swung into the lane and balanced for the run home.

Pat was back in behind the leading quartet waiting for the field to roll off the fence which it did and he pushed the go-button and speared up along the paint, running to the lead by a length over Shady Lover with the others in close pursuit.

At the 200m he was holding his lead but started to get his head up and look about and whilst not enjoying the surface which is so typical of the Exceed and Excel breed, Pat kept driving him forward and our boy kept responding to go to the line strongly.

Sky Channel Racecaller over the concluding 400m commentary:

“At the 400m mark and Hookham goes for an inside run, comes after shady lover. It'sreels under a bit of pressure and Himeros joins in with a nice run down the outside On The Job and Doc March is into the open.

“Hookham in front of shady lover Himeros, It'sreel is only whacking away and then Doc March, Hookham the leader from Shady Lover, Himeros is trying hard down by outside, its Hookham and Shady Lover, Hookham just in front of Shady Lover. Hookham beat Shady Lover; Himeros 3rd; 4th a photo Doc March and It'sreel. Then I See Stars a fair gap to On The Job, the last one home was Enlightening.

“Hookham takes out the second event of the day from Shady Lover; Himeros is there for 3rd, 4th is a photo. So, the numbers there look to be #4 Hookham first over Shady Lover #11 and Himeros #8. Hookham got a beautiful run for the inside gate and Pat Scorse in the saddle for trainer Darrell Burnett.

“Hookham a four-year-old gelding by Exceed And Excel out of Dame Margot Fonteyn.”

JOB DONE!

Post-Race Jockey Pat Scorse reported to the Owners:

“Look he was a little bit antsy in the gate so when he wasn't always quickly, I thought it's probably best to take the box seat instead of pushing him to know be out of his comfort zone. He seemed to relax well in behind the speed, switched off lovely he was brave enough to take half a gap and once you got into the clear he really started to warm up and let down and he will be good in this area. Thank you."

Trainer Darrell Burnet later on Saturday afternoon sent a report to our owners:

“Hey, guys, just got the big winner, the big champion. Obviously, thanks very much for the owners and Adam sending him down to us here in Wagga. It’s great to have someone like Dynamic Syndications join our small stable who's growing and it's even better to kick off the relationship with the winner.

"Really, really happy with this horse today. As I said in my pre-race report last night, it was a bit of a drop in grade for him, Barrier 1, Soft track, Drop in weight. So, there was a lot to like.

"And as you seen off the footage Saturday morning, we were really, really happy with the way presented. He behaved himself at the races. Paraded beautifully so he gave himself every chance.

"He just got a bit fidgety in the gates and just bounded on jumping but because he had barrier 1, he was able to get in behind them. He got the run of the race and then run a pretty nice last 600 compared to comparative to the day and fight off any opposition.

"And record his first win, so really, really happy. Pulled up well, he just had a pick of grass.

"We have iced his legs and clayed them just to make him feel as good as possible ahead of his next assignment.

"Yeah, really, really happy to come down to this area and record that straight away. Hopefully, that means it's not as last win here. I was just trying keep him in a similar vein a form. Hopefully takes a little bit of confidence and improvement out of that. Once again, thanks so much for sending him guys.”

HOOKHAM 4yo Bay Gelding by EXCEED AND EXCEL from DAME MARGO FONTEYN (NZ)

Trainer: Darrell Burnet - Wagga

Summary: 8 starts = 1:1:1 Prizemoney: $25,610

CONGRATULATIONS to our Loyal Team of Dynamic Owners that race HOOKHAM: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr S R Freeman, Mr S D Fitzpatrick, Mr G Rassos, Mr P W J Janovsky, Mr R L Kim, Mr G J Creagan, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd, Mrs N Finnigan, Mr K Tiliacos, Mrs J Tiliacos, Mr C Limberis, Mrs K Limberis, Mr S D Murray, Dynamic No 138

HOOKHAM recorded his first win, but it was also the first win for Dynamic Darrell with horses racing in our colours.

HOOKHAM also recorded Dynamic Syndications 15th Race Win for the new season and our 905th Race Win overall.

Onwards and Upwards – Forever Forward!