Dynamic Syndications stayer DAMBULLA finally got out to the trip we always believed would suit him best and the
Ciaron Maher trained 5yo didn’t disappoint his owners when proving
too strong under 59.0kg Top Weight to claim the
RE/MAX ELITE MOUNTAINEER CUP – a Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series (3200m).
Well ridden by leading local rider
Blaike McDougall, DAMBULLA (5yo g FASTNET ROCK x TEMPLE OF PEACE) franked the consistent form he has been reeling off this preparation, including a last start 3rd at Warwick Farm over 2400m, with a very strong display.
DAMBULLA defeated Hello China by 0.41 length with Thurmanator a further 2.4 lengths away in third. They ran 3:26.58 for the 3200m.
DAMBULLA has taken his overall race record to 16 Starts: 3:2:4 and $86,775
When acceptances were declared for the 2400m race at Kensington on Wednesday DAMBULLA was in the field and we believed the horse was well placed but may find it too short.
The 3200m race at Wagga was
less than ideal as it was such a long trip down the highway, however we had always harbored the belief that
DAMBULLA was a perfect
$300,000 JERICHO CUP 4600m Bm 90 contender and we did the form at nominations time, we believed this was the smarter way to go. We had to scratch from the Kennington race before accepting at Wagga and we rolled the dice that the race would stand up. It did and we drew barrier 6 in a field of 7 runners.
Blaike was asked by the Ciaron Maher stable to be positive and lead unless something went too hard and if that occurred trail to the 800m and then put the pressure on. We knew that
DAMBULLA can’t sprint but can keep going and going and going at the same cruising speed. He just toughs it out.
The race played out perfectly for
DAMBULLA. He went forward in the first 100m but inexplicably two runners thought it was an Oakley Plate rather than a 2-mile slog as Everly Girl and Thurmanator pushed hard for the lead. Then the favourite Hilltop Hood who had settled last took off as they were heading into the home straight for the first time and circled the field and ran to a 5-length lead going past the winning post with a lap to go.
The field stayed in this order until as they passed the 800m Blaike asked
DAMBULLA to go forward and then cruised up at the 600m to lead the field into the straight. He quickly established a winning break before a late surge from back in the field by Hello China looked to have our boy in trouble but despite the big 4.0kg pull in the weights,
DAMBULLA dug deep and rallied again to fend off Hello China and score by a widening margin.
The
JERICHO CUP has been on our radar and the win today earned
DAMBULLA 3 points towards qualifying for the race basically ensuring
DAMBULLA a start in the exciting new event.
Congratulations to the Dynamic Owners that Race DAMBULLA: Dynamic Syndications Racing, EST S Bellear, Mr H C Leung, Mr J Filipowicz, Mr S L Goodger, Ms G E Cookson, Mr M D Needham, Mr M C Sumpter, Mrs I R Thomas, Mrs B J Dinon, Mr C Mcmanus, Mrs S J Clements, Mr G Schulz, EST F N Fitzpatrick, Dynamic No 61, Mr M B Naughton, Mr P Lienesch.
Dambulla (Wagga) from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
This win recorded our 671st Overall Win and our 17th Win for the 2020-21 Racing Season.
The 2020 JERICHO CUP will be run at Warrnambool on 29 November over 4600m (3 miles).
History: Approaching the end of the First World War, the Australian Light Horse were planning a major offensive against the Turkish Empire.
In order to lull the enemy into believing nothing unusual was afoot, a race meeting was organised on the eve of the assault.
The main race was called
The Jericho Cup over 3 miles through the desert sands.
The winner was
Bill the Bastard, Australia’s Greatest War Horse.
The Jericho Cup is run annually since the 100th anniversary in 2018 to honour Bill the Bastard, the Australian Light Horsemen and their magnificent mounts – The Walers 1914 to 1918. They collectively formed the spearhead of the Allied Forces in the Middle East. They destroyed the centuries old Ottoman Empire and drove the Turks from the Holy Land.
The JERICHO CUP is run to remember and celebrate the ultimate victory and of course Bill The Bastard.