Normally the saying goes “odds on - look on” however when a horse is so well placed in a race that a skinny quote appears still well over the odds, that’s where those who are prepared to take “tomato sauce” prices, still realise it remains exceptional value for money.
That was the scenario today for Dynamic Syndications speed horse I AM SPECIAL (I AM INVINCIBLE x SPECIAL MENTION) who won Race 1 at Quirindi the Browning Motors Benchmark 64 Hcp over 1000m on Friday afternoon starting at $1.30.
Originally set to run on Tuesday this week in a Benchmark 70, over 1000m race at Tamworth, where she was set to win, a sticky outside barrier draw made us re-think our options.
When the nominations came out for the Friday meeting at Quirindi, a very similar race, we reviewed those nominations and chose to wait for this assignment.
I AM SPECIAL by winning this event has taken her overall career to now 7 starts = 4 wins and $52,060 in Earnings.
I AM SPECIAL has now raced twice for young Newcastle based trainer BEN SMITH for 2 wins, both ridden by promising young apprentice Chris Williams.
Trainer BEN SMITH with I AM SPECIAL
She won first up for Ben and Chris at Newcastle over 900m and has now added this win over 1000m to her resume.
I AM SPECIAL jumped well and went forward to sit at the girth of the leader and was never in danger thanks to these simple tactics and a heady ride by Chis Williams, who claimed 1.5kgs, ensuring that our filly was well placed with 58.5kgs on her back.
400m
200m
50m
25m
Winning
Return to Scale
We believed we had the best horse in the race and wanted to be up front, out of trouble and make it a catch me if you can event – and simply, those chasing couldn’t. Mathematically it was near impossible for those chasing to catch her and they couldn’t.
I AM SPECIAL sizzled around in running 56.79 with a last 600m of 32.24.
That broke the previous Benchmark 65 record of 56.84 set in 2010 and she established a new Class Record for a Benchmark 64 grade.
Having gone through her grades with 4 wins in 7 starts which is actually better still, considering on debut she failed to finish when she bucked on jumping and was pulled out of the race by the rider.
So it’s really 4 wins in 6 starts that she competed in, including a close up 4th at Hawkesbury where first and second across the line have both won in town since.
I AM SPECIAL has recorded wins at Orange, Quirindi, Canberra and Newcastle on her resume and now deserves to be aimed a better assignments going forward.
Congratulations to this terrific Ownership Team that race I AM SPECIAL:
Dynamic Syndications Racing (Mgr: D Watt), N Loader, J Kasbarian, S Hodder, A Beaton, A Pino, W Muller, N Honey, Mrs A J Ford, D French, M Grogan, Mrs G Wyld, M Mazzeo, P Woodworth, Mrs S Haggett, D Molesworth, C Charalambous & D Batchelor
Importantly for Dynamic Syndications, I AM SPECIAL became our 50th Race Win by our selected horses this 2017-18 Racing Season and our 535th Race win overall.