The Dynamic Duo of Trainer Brad Widdup and Team Dynamic has stretched out to become the Tremendous Trio with jockey Christian Reith also an integral part of our brilliant strike rate.
The Three Amigos combined again at Canterbury on Friday Night with honest galloper
MIAMI DADE to claim race 6, the
Schweppes EVENING STAR Hcp the feature event worth $80,000.
This was no fluke and
it is extremely satisfying when a plan comes to fruition.
The art of racing is ensuring the horse is well placed to take advantage of the opportunities that are programmed.
This race had been identified by Adam Watt from Dynamic as our target 3 months ago when MIAMI DADE was in training, having returned from a spell.
Brad Widdup and Adam Watt with Miami Dade
Miami Dade at the time was a Benchmark 70 horse who we know is only effective at a mile and it takes him a few foundation runs early in a spell, to gain the fitness to run the distance.
Published in the November racing programme for the 9th February was a very rare restricted race for 5yo’s and older gallopers at a Benchmark 80.
Called the Evening Star it carried double the standard Friday Night prizemoney of $80,000 with $43,140 to the winner.
So, Adam mapped out a programme and confirmed it with our trainer Brad that consisted of two barrier trials to give us a foundation and then we would run him in higher grade Saturday Class races over the unsuitable 1200m and then 1400m to get up to his right distance.
He resumed as a Benchmark 70 horse in a 1200m Benchmark 80 event at Randwick and ran very well despite not being a sharp sprinter to be beaten just over 3 lengths.
He dropped 2 benchmark points and then faced the starter three weeks later in a higher-grade Benchmark 82 at 1400m where he ran 5th and the handicapper raised him 3 points for that effort.
Despite both these being unsuitable trips, we knew third up he would be hard to beat at 1600m and no matter what happened third up, we would have him rock hard fit for our main aim, fourth up over 1550m.
We felt he was well placed third up at 1600m, back to provincial Benchmark 74 Saturday class at Kembla Grange. He ran a super race there but finished in second place, carrying 59.0kgs giving weight and fitness to the winner.
The handicapper dropped him 4 points for that effort, which saw him now only a Benchmark 67 leading into the feature Canterbury mission.
Everything was on target and the planets aligned. We also anticipated that historically, these races restricted to older horses are lacking in both numbers and quality.
We had him cherry ripe so to cover our bases, we also accepted with him in a Benchmark 72, 1550m event on the same programme as a back-up option in case something unforeseen would happen and the Evening Star was too strong or too many runners would mean we would miss a run. However, we were delighted when acceptances came through it was only a field of 8 so we scratched from the other event.
Miami Dade was now fit, race hardened, and in a Benchmark 80 being just a 67 he was very well in at the weights only having to carry 55.0kgs on a 61.0kg top weight.
Tactically we had decided after the barrier draw gave us the widest gate, that we would ride him with the intent to lead or sit at the girth of the leader, then apply the pressure before the home turn, to get those trailing him off the bit, giving us a head start and weight.
Also, we knew we were going to be in a forward position around the three turns of the Canterbury 1550m which under lights, was a major advantage to have both a head start plus a pull in the weights from some of his rivals.
You will never see a better ride (maybe as good - but never better) than what Christian Reith put in on Miami Dade. It was an 11 out of 10 display following the script to perfection.
Miami Dade jumped well but a few underneath him tried to push up and keep us wide but Christian covered a straight line to the first turn, then cut across which had him placed perfectly in second position at the girth of the leader (eventual runner-up) Nat King Cu, who had to give us 4.0 kgs.
The pair raced like this down the back straight and then going into the top turn, Miami Dade moved up to be sitting eyeballing the leader.
Then just before entering the straight, Christian gave Miami Dade a push and stole a break. As they balanced up, it became a two-horse war as the inside horse kept kicking up to fight but the pull in the weights and the easier run in transit told and Miami Dade under hands and heels, maintained his margin and was pulling away on the line.
Such was the dominance that Christian even had time to turn his head and with a cheeky smile for the camera.
The most remarkable aspect was the incredibly generous starting price of $18 and longer that our owners took advantage of. We had him rated well in the market so to us, it was very rewarding.
Added in was the fact it was a birthday celebration for Adam Watt of Dynamic Syndications, there was a big group of excited connections on hand, waving betting tickets as they welcomed Christian Reith and Miami Dade back to the Winners Circle.
Purchased for $35,000 as a tried horse from Godolphin, specifically to be trained by Brad Widdup, this was MIAMI DADE’s second win for our team.
So far MIAMI DADE has picked up for the owners $68,080 and now Brad Widdup and pilot Christian Reith have worked out the traits of MIAMI DADE and also add in the fact he such a sound and honest galloper, the future looks bright for his owners to keep having fun.
The win continues the staggering run of success the Brad Widdup / Dynamic Syndications partnership is producing. A brilliant horseman, Brad Widdup continues to make his mark in Sydney racing.
Together we have now recorded 58 Starts: 14 Wins, 8 Seconds, 10 Thirds, 7 Fourths.
14 Winners : 58 Runners = 24.1%
32 Placed (1-2-3) : 58 Runners = 55.2%
39 First Four : 58 Runners = 67.2%
These stats are phenomenal, especially considering Brad has only had his trainers license 9 months !
MIAMI DADE winning this event recorded DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS WIN number 521 and also it recorded our 34th Win for the Current 2017-18 Racing Season.
Congratulations to our OWNERS of MIAMI DADE:
Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr B S Widdup, Mrs A T Woollett, Mr P J Woollett, Mr D H Imrie, Mr M E Harper, Mr B K Tucker, Mr K Pearson, Mr S Bellear, Mr C M Miller, Mr A J Luciano, Mr J P Kelly, Mr P Scargall, Mr S Ford, Mr G C Missio, Mr S Najda, Mr D J Ash.
MIAMI DADE is a 5yo Gelding by Commands from Boca Chita
Career Summary: 27sts = 5 - 3 - 5 and $158,360 Prizemoney, 5 Wins at 1550 (1) / 1600 (4)
Canterbury Track: 6:1-2-1 , Track/Dist: 5:1-2-1 , Total at Distance Range: 18:5-3-4 , Good: 21:4-3-4 , Soft: 6:1-0-1