In an industry based completely on competition and where results are only accounted for by racetrack success, if you "talk the talk you must be able to walk the walk." Simply there is no substitution for winning. As they say
"Winners Can Laugh - Losers Can Please Themselves."
So it was very rewarding on Saturday at Warwick Farm when Dynamic Syndications continued on our winning way, recording our 50th win for the 2011/12 Racing Season when the ultra promising and highly impressive 2yo filly
SECRET DELIGHT (Encosta De Lago x Divine Secret) scored a narrow but classy win in Race 1, the Australian Turf Club Plate 1000m, an Open event for 2yo's under Set Weights and Penalties Conditions.
Ridden to perfection by in form apprentice Blake Spriggs, the David Payne trained Dynamic galloper stamped herself as a future star and has earned a crack at 3 races in the early Spring. She will be aimed at the Rosebud, Silver Shadow and Golden Rose.
Bred to be special and with the genetic pedigree balance to back up her commercial pedigree page, she is by Champion Sire ENCOSTA DE LAGO whilst her dam Divine Secret was Gr1 placed in the Blue Diamond.
Bred by COOLMORE STUD, Dynamic purchased her from the COOLMORE draft for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Premier Sale in 2011. We had identified the filly as a future top pedigree mating for our sire REWARD FOR EFFORT in years to come and in the interim, a possible top racing prospect. She is certainly paying us back well so far.
The filly has showed us plenty in trackwork and after having zero luck on debut over 1100m when, checked at the start, forced to settle last and being untested in the straight after finding a zip fast pocket, she then showed her potential to be elite.
At her next start over 1250m, she led a quality field through the mud and driving rain to score an effortless win. She backed it up again on Saturday when being tested again, this time she was up to Saturday class, and dropping back significantly 250m, the media gave her little hope with the exception of one noted journalist Shayne O'Cass from the Sportsman, who accurately rated her a winning hope.
After her easy romp at Canterbury we had to do some soul searching as to which way to head with the filly. Wanting to be eligible for the nice races in the early Spring, we believed we needed another run at Saturday level and to finish in the placings to be assured of not being balloted out of these 3 races. We had identified the 1300m event as the logical option however that race was a handicap and we knew, having won at Canterbury, we would be harshly treated against the boys. On the same programme was a 1000m event at the SW&P. We also were aware that the handicapper could not punish her and with Chad Schofield's claim, she would be beautifully placed. Also we knew her gate speed and early toe is terrific and she could be with the leaders over the sharp course. So we targeted the 1000m.
Things went a little pear shaped when young Chad was subsequently suspended and unavailable for the ride. So we swooped on another of our favourite young riders Blake Spriggs to take over. We did accept for both the 1000m and the 1300m just in case the 1300m fell away or in the 1000m we drew poorly in a big field. However when the fields came out, we picked the 1000m race.
David Payne's stable produced the filly in magnificent order to the races. Apprentice Chad Schofield had been riding her trackwork and reported that she had freshened up beautifully and was ready.
We could not believe our eyes when in the early market, the bookmakers were incredibly generous. We truly believed on exposed form lines, she would be favourite and our ratings had her at $3.80. So when they offered $9.50, our connections stepped forward and claimed their price. The filly was backed into $6:00 and paid just $5.10 on the NSW TAB.
Blake Spriggs followed our game plan to the letter in a perfect display of riding. We asked Blake to be positive in the first 2 furlongs and even if he was beaten for early speed, keep working forward. From the barrier, we wanted him to be running a straight course well away from the fence for the first 400m and work up to the leading division before turning for home but at no stage, be closer than 3 wide off the fence.
We believed that even though she may struggle at the acceleration of the speedy squibs, her fitness and race experience and mainly, her pull in the weights would be enough to overcome her extra work.
There is nothing more rewarding than when a plan comes off. As they say, an inch is as good as a mile, just ask (Black Caviar's connections). It was wonderful to see the expressions on the faces of the owners on track and to hear the excitement of those whom I spoke with on the phone after the race.
Congratulations to the winning owners: Dynamic Syndications Racing Synd,
N Arnold, M Faria, N Fraser, J Keeley, N Loader, G Rassos, F Welk &
Dynamic No 25 Synd
SECRET DELIGHT is now off for a short let up before returning to Rosehill to prepare for the 3 targeted races.