Dynamic Duo NASH RAWILLER and INVASION DAY (IRE) were at their
brilliant BEST as our
Richard and Michael Freedman trained European Import prevailed in a sensational battle up the Warwick Farm straight to claim Race 5, the Heineken Handicap, a Benchmark 72 over 1400m on Wednesday afternoon.
INVASION DAY (IRE) is a 5yo Bay Gelding (by FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (GB) from VAN DE CAPPELLE (IRE)) and a Dynamic European Import purchase out of Tattersalls UK Horses-In-Training Sale. We purchased him for just 30,000 guineas ($62,537 AUD) and were able to land him in Australia at a bargain price of $6,840 inc GST for a 5% share.
Dynamic Syndications Owners and the
white-hot stables of the Richard and Michael Freedman - FREEDMAN BROTHERS Racing, combined for another racetrack victory, now it’s up to
28 Winners from their stables for Dynamic Syndications in the past
22 months.
Credit where it is due,
Richard Freedman has done a brilliant job at Rosehill with INVASION DAY (IRE) to produce our horse as the
“pick of the yard” and race right up to his terrific looks, but it also took a masterclass of a ride from our
“go-to” jet pilot Nash Rawiller, who extricated the horse from a seemingly impossible position, to barge his way out and then, pushed through a tightening gap, to storm home and turn what appeared certain defeat, into a super victory in the shadow of the post.
Asked to carry the top weight of 58.5kgs and spotting all 10 of his peers weight after their claims, Nash produced a pearler of a ride aboard a horse that stripped a lot fitter for his first-up victory at Hawkesbury over 1300m on the 11th November.
Early betting couldn’t find a favourite with 5 horses in the field quoted at $5.00 with 2 minutes to go before they jumped. It looked anyone’s race in the betting ring and the closeness of the field as they passed the winning post proved it with 0.7 length covering the first 5 across the line.
In a race that was always looking as if they would fly from the gates, we anticipated
INVASION DAY (IRE) would land just behind the leaders and get cover before peeling out at the top of the straight.
However, racing is a sport and what looks likely on paper, is regularly different in reality.
Things didn’t quite go to plan and when this happens, that’s where we see the coolness and experience of sensational rider Nash Rawiller comes to the fore.
As the gates crashed back,
INVASION DAY (IRE) dwelt slightly causing our horse to be a little further back than anticipated, then our horse wanted to over race and charged forward causing Nash a strenuous ride to control him.
INVASION DAY (IRE) pushed up and then the speed came out of the race up front, causing
INVASION DAY (IRE) to be checked. The field was racing 3 abreast on the lead, and despite working hard for the first 600m, Nash was able to get
INVASION DAY (IRE) to settle as the field packed approaching the home turn.
As those behind started to sweep up out deeper on the track, they were racing very tight up front and Nash was stuck in a hard pocket with a lap full of horse and nowhere to go.
Finally, at the 200m Nash had some luck as one of the leaders began to tire and Nash had to barge that horse out of the way to give chase to the leaders, spotting them 1.5 lengths at the 150m.
Then Nash went to the inside of the leader Olympic Legend, to a gap that had appeared but then began to close but Nash had established his run and was bounced off runners to press on through that gap which again took
INVASION DAY (IRE) off balance, when spotting the leaders weight.
In the last 50m Nash was clear and gave chase, reeling in Olympic Legend and then the leader on the fence Lailea de Vega in the last 3 strides to see
INVASION DAY (IRE) put his nose down where it mattered, to claim a determined and courageous victory over Lailea De Vega by just 0.1 of a length with Havin’ Fun finishing 0.5 lengths from us in third spot just ahead of Lisdoonvarna 0.6 of a length and Olympic Legend 0.7 of a length.
INVASION DAY (IRE) started at $5.50 equal second favourite and stopped the clock in a sizzling 1:22.43 coming home in 35.58. It was a deserved win, as had he been able to achieve clear passage in transit, there is no doubt that the margin would have been significant.
Winning this event, he has taken his Race Record to
22 starts: 4 Wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds and earnings of $104,769 AUD.
Congratulations goes to a sensational team of loyal Dynamic Syndications Owners that purchased into INVASION DAY (IRE): Dynamic no. 114 Synd, Mrs A T Woollett, Mr P J Woollett, Mr H Bongiorno, Mr J Bongiorno, Mr D Chen, Mrs K Tew, Mr D J Ricketts, Mr S Najda, Mr J W Geard, Mr S B Troughton, Mr J L Pettigrew, Mr A J Pettigrew, Mr M Daly, Ms A A Bradley, Mr K McDonald, Mr R J McWilliam, Mr S J Brereton, Mr A Watt, Dynamic Invasion Day Synd.
Despite having a pedigree and conformation that insists the horse is looking for a trip between 1600m and 2000m here in Australia,
INVASION DAY (IRE) is unique in the fact he has a very rare commodity for European horse being
"natural speed" and importantly a
“turn of foot.”
Invasion Day from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
This win became Dynamic Syndications 679th Overall race win and our 25th Race Win for this 2020-21 Racing Season.
Thanks to Mark Bradley at Bradley Photographers for the terrific photos