I AM ME Connections Set to TEST Her PEDIGREE in 1400m Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke

16 Nov 23

I AM ME has had a wonderful Spring Carnival to date.

I AM ME winning the $2m Sydney Stakes Gr3 1200m

I AM ME, her Owners, Dynamic Syndications and Ciaron Maher Racing (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) were honoured recently to receive an Invitation to the ATC $2m INVITATION Mares Race which we respectfully declined so we could take our place in the Gr1 Manikato.

Then last weekend I AM ME received an Invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to participate in the feature HKD$26m Feature Sprint Race ($4.5m AUD) at the Hong Kong International Races on December 10.

However, after weighing up all the facts and figures, this opportunity was also respectfully declined and our 5yo mare I AM ME will have her final run for the preparation in Saturday’s Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield, before heading straight to the spelling paddock for a well-deserved break.

I AM ME winning the Gr2 Missile Stakes 1200m at Rosehill 5 August

I AM ME has won two of her four starts this spring, claiming the Gr2 Missile Stakes 1200m, $2m Sydney Stakes Gr3 1200m, and last start runner-up in the $2m Manikato Gr1, 1200m.

I AM ME on the way to the barriers in the Gr1 Manikato

For this preparation I AM ME has banked for her owners just short of $1.7m and has taken her career record to:

17 Starts: 9 Wins: 2 Seconds: 1 Third & Prizemoney earnings of: $2,156,850.

I AM ME is a Gr2, Gr3 and LR Winner; Gr1 placed; 4th LR. and the Canterbury Track Record Holder.

Further, she was recently valued by William Inglis for insurance purposes at $2.5 million as a breeding prospect upon retirement.

A nice return on her $210,000 purchase price at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

I AM ME (I AM INVINCIBLE x MEFNOODA) at the Inglis Premier Sale in 2020 after we purchased her

Whilst I AM ME is a brilliant speedster, she has never truly been tested on good ground beyond 1200m and we have always been keen to see our mare out at seven furlongs.

Her pedigree strongly suggests she will relish the trip. She is from MEFNOODA, a Medaglia d’Oro broodmare who won 5 races out to 1450m, and Medaglia d’Oro as a broodmare sire is responsible for 82 stakes winners with his daughters three best turf runners all Gr1 Winners at 2000m.

Connections have always been keen to test the mare beyond six furlongs, however being such a brilliant speedster, it’s been hard not concentrating at just six furlongs. The way she rattled home last start in the Gr1 1200m Manikato confirmed to us she was looking for extra distance.

I AM ME was accepted for two races this weekend with the $1m Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke 1400m her main target, whilst she was also accepted in the $1m The Hunter 1300m at Newcastle on Saturday as an insurance policy. Whilst both races are for the same amount, THE HUNTER does not have black-type associated with it, whilst the Sir Rupert Clarke is a Gr1.

The only piece of black-type magic missing from our mare’s pedigree now is a Gr1 Win, and we have always believed she is capable of earning that, so she has been aimed at this race.

THE HUNTER was simply our insurance policy in case we received the visitors draw at Caulfield. So when we drew barrier 10 of 19 in the Caulfield event, and analysis suggested that gate looked ideal with the way the marbles fell for several others in betting markets having drawn wide.

I AM ME is being tested at 1400m with the view of providing us some clarity as to which way we head next preparation.

Whether we concentrate on pure speed races or target two races in Queensland mid-year being THE STRADBROKE and the TATTERSALL’ S TIARA both 1400m Gr1 events.

There are so many options available for I AM ME. However, we anticipate that the Sir Rupert Clarke shall assist us in our planning.

For this important assignment, we were delighted to change tact and engaged the services of the best Melbourne based rider available being Blake Shinn to take over the reins for us in this Saturday’s Gr1 assignment. Blake and his manager Liam Prior are important members of the Dynamic Syndications Team, and we have had terrific success working closely together over the years.

Blake Shinn celebrates with Adam Watt at Flemington on Cup Day in 2022

Blake is in superb touch and we feel assured Blake will give our mare every opportunity to perform at the peak of her powers. Blake being the pinnacle rider at this Caulfield meeting will gives us a vital edge in an extremely open event on ratings.

Dynamic Blake Shinn

I AM ME has had a flawless preparation leading into Saturday’s Gr1 assignment and was right at the top of her game in trackwork on Monday morning.

Connections are keen to test the mare against the best seven-furlong horses around, and we are drop back in grade from Weight-For-Age assignments at her past two runs, to handicap conditions here. Despite being the highest rated runner in the field as a Benchmark 109, she has a nice weight of only 56.0kgs, just 3.5kgs over the 52.5kg limit.

Whatever the future may hold for I AM ME its been a wonderful ride to date, and we expect our Owners will continue enjoying their success in this wonderful advertisement of an ownership dream having turned into reality.