If ever there was a well deserved win by any Dynamic Syndications horse it was our 4yo mare GRAPHITE MIST who saluted first-up from a spell, and facing the starter for her fourth career start, and her first start for her new trainer JACK BRUCE who is based at Deagon.
GRAPHITE MIST is a beatifically bred daughter of CAPITALIST from ICY MIST, a yearling purchase from the Magic Millions Sale.
GRAPHITE MIST won Race 2 at Gatton on Thursday 29/9/22, the Royal George Hotel Maiden Handicap over 1100m with our “go-to” jet pilot Ryan Wiggins in the saddle.
Wearing the number 5 saddlecloth, GRAPHITE MIST carrying 56.5kgs started $2.10 favourite having been backed-in on every call after opening at $3.60.
That was off the back of an impressive trial win on 30/8 at Doomben, which acted as a pipe opener leading into this event.
GRAPHITE MIST won this race with ease to record victory over IRISH SALLY (52.5kgs) with SHARP SHOOTER in third. GRAPHITE MIST stopped the clock in 1:04.51 with a last 600m of 34.73 secs.
As they say: “all good things come to those who wait” and that’s what has happened for the terrific team of loyal Dynamic Syndications Owners that race GRAPHITE MIST.
We are incredibly lucky to even still have GRAPHITE MIST capable of going to the races, let alone winning, after a terrible fall at Newcastle at her previous start back on the 9th April over 1400m.
That day when being ridden by Christian Reith, she was leading at the 200m and looked set for victory when a wayward apprentice in the race couldn’t steer their mount straight and it ran out and cannoned straight into GRAPHITE MIST tripping her front legs which caused a nasty fall. Christian was thrown over the front and as a result Christian has not ridden since, after suffering fractures to his spine and it was touch and go if GRAPHITE MIST could ever race again, based upon significant injuries she received.
Sent out to Gooree Park at Mudgee, she was nursed back to health and did light pre-training before heading north to be given to young gun trainer JACK BRUCE to polish-up for her ownership team.
Our mare was a little nervous when resuming training, but good horsemanship skills by the stable built our mare’s confidence and she went back to the trials on 30 August at Doomben recording a win.
We would normally give our horses two trials, but this time around to keep her confidence, Jack kept her to the one trial.
We had our mare nominated at several venues over the next few days, but our team believed the race at Gatton was the best fit and once acceptances were released and she drew well in barrier 4 with Ryan Wiggins available to ride her it was a “no brainer.”
Importantly we also knew that Gatton would be running on a Good 4 surface and with the weather patterns the way they are, we wanted to ensure our mare a nice deck to travel upon.
Gatton is a tricky circuit and favours front runners, and in particular leaders on the paint because of the turns at the 700m 400m, 200m and the short run home.
Our plan was to be positive from the good draw and see how it panned out. We were happy to lead or trail the leaders but wanted to be no further than one pair back if possible.
As the gates crashed back, GRAPHITE MISS was sent out running, landing a neck in front of the field, after the first few hops. Then a couple underneath her in barrier 3, I AM JIMMY and barrier 1, RAZAMAGAZZA thought it was an Oakleigh Plate and speared to the front, running far too quick.
After they had run the first 100m, I Am Jimmy had taken the lead with Razamgazza keeping it one off the fence.
Ryan grabbed hold of our mare and took her out of that speed battle to get a trail on the back of I Am Jimmy, as Nobel Indian then pushed up to eyeball our mare 3-deep, and Slick Shooter kept her company 4-deep, in a blistering early furlong.
Over the next furlong, Ryan was able to settle GRAPHITE MIST one pair back, in third spot however was asking our mare for an effort to stay in touch with the breakneck leaders.
Rounding the tight turn at the 700m off the back straight as they start to slide down the side, GRAPHITE MIST took a rough stride, as her off hind leg slid away from underneath her.
Ryan showing excellent horsemanship, took hold of our mare’s head, and got her back into a rhythm as they approached the 600m marker.
Still sitting 4th one pair back on the fence, Ryan realised he was in an awkward spot on the Gatton track, especially behind the leading pair that had gone too hard, and the field was closing up around her as backmarkers began their moves.
Ryan showed his coolness under pressure, and angled our mare deep, off the heels of the leaders.
Passing the 400m marker Razamagazza burst like a pricked balloon, as Slick Shooter and Irish Sally both moved up 3 and 4 deep to eyeball I Am Jimmy in the lead and that pushed our mare Graphite Mist into a pocket.
Ryan was temporarily held-up, as he changed lanes to get off the heels of I Am Jimmy who had by now also burst.
Turning into the short straight, GRAPHITE MIST was speared 5 deep into the straight, which was out in the centre of the track, but Ryan knew he had a lap full of horse and wanted to keep her momentum going.
Once the Dynamic Duo saw daylight, they were off for the prize and despite turning for home over a length behind, with every stride she reeled in the leaders, and then ran past giving them a cold, as she whooshed-by. Irish Sally gave chase to her on the outside and with a 4.0kgs pull in the weights sit tuck on without ever being a danger, as this pair left the others in their wake.
GRAPHITE MIST & RYAN WIGGINS
When the camera flashed, GRAPHITE MIST was far too strong, and easily held off Irish Sally by 0.8 length with Slick Shooter 1.8 lengths away in third, and I Am Jimmy hanging on to claim fourth spot 3.8 lengths behind our mare.
With her eased down victory over the final 50m, GRAPHITE MIST had spread the field of 10 runners out over some 14.5 lengths between first and last.
CONGRATULATIONS to an A1 Team of Loyal Dynamic Syndications Owners that race GRAPHITE MIST: Dynamic Syndications Racing (Mgr: D W Watt), C Freeman, Mrs A T Woollett, P J Woollett, D A Poletto, S F Duggan, C A Reid, & D W Watt.
Graphite Mist from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Congratulations to young trainer JACK BRUCE who was having his 34th runner for the season and this win recorded his 10th Win for the Season (29.4% Strike Rate) along with 10 placings (58.8%).
Dynamic Syndications raced the mare ICY MIST and we were keen on this Capitalist filly when we saw her at the sales. So, to have so much go wrong along the way, this win is so satisfying to all.
ICY MIST winning in our silks at Canterbury
It's stories like this with GRAPHITE MIST claiming her win, that can be equally rewards for owners as winning at the elite level.
It’s a reward for loyalty and perseverance.
This win by GRAPHITE MIST was our 7th for the season and our 777th Race Win overall.
If we were playing the pokies we’ve just hit the jackpot !!!
Onwards and Upwards!