Trainer RICHARD FREEDMAN calls him
“quirky” and jockeys claim he can be a
“difficult” horse to ride due to his headstrong ways, however there is no questioning his genuine ability when our UK Import
MUSHAIREB scored a determined win at Randwick’s Kensington track on Saturday afternoon.
'Quirky' was the buzzword Richard Freedman labelled the horse with, and on the evidence of his pre-race antics and what happened on the track, it's an apt description.
Jockey Rachel King had all sorts of trouble being legged aboard the gelding in the parade and didn't make it onto his back until well into the tunnel.
MUSHAIREB a 6yo Bay Gelding by INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) from HIDDEN BRIEF (GB) was purchased by Dynamic Syndications at the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale in the UK for 62,000 Guineas and he continues producing trademark honest efforts, this time with a courageous win at Headquarters.
The RICHARD FREEDMAN trained Dynamic galloper MUSHAIREB was backing up in 7 days, when facing the starter in Race 7 on the programme, the Maroubra Mile Handicap, an Open Company event over 1550m on the inner Kensington track at Randwick.
The previous Saturday MUSHAIREB was ridden by Nash Rawiller over 1800m and had zero luck as favourite, when locked into a pocket then behind a wall of horses in the straight. He’s still looking for a way out such were the blockages he encountered in that run.
That day he went to the post untested in what was not much more than a training gallop. He had plenty of energy that wasn’t expended that day and he went home and licked the tin out.
He went into that race after a 2nd placing when resuming to subsequent Stakes Winner Rainer. Then he ran 2nd at the Saturday stand-alone meeting at Newcastle to Strome.
That race was followed by a luckless run in the Gr2 Villiers when 5th just 2 lengths behind the winner Quakerjack. So, there was no doubting a drop back in class and up in trip looked ideal on paper and punters agreed. However, they don’t run races on paper and lumping 61.0kgs negated his ability to accelerate quickly, and the race was ugly, he just had zero luck in transit.
We had intended to give him 2-3 weeks between races however when the nominations came out for the Maroubra Mile Handicap, there were only 8 in the field and it looked devoid of any true speed with 8 competitors either resuming, out of form or at the wrong distance.
Since Mushaireb was bright and took no ill effects from the race, Team Dynamic called trainer Richard Freedman suggesting the thought bubble. We knew being an open company event and having seen the nominations, he would get the limit of 52.0kgs a drop of 9.0kgs on the previous Saturday and 1.5kgs less than he carried in the Villiers.
A conversation was had between the parties about the event. Richard’s response made us laugh and was so typically Richard when he said
“there is no such thing as a bad idea, only ideas that work and those that don’t.”
So, the plan was hatched. A quick ring to Rachel King’s manager Shaun Flaherty confirmed Rachel was available and we booked her, knowing that she was able to make the 52.0kg limit.
On the same day the nominations were extended for the benchmark 78 over the same trip that had 9 nominations and MUSHAIREB would need to carry 60.0kgs in that race.
When the weights came out, there was only the one extra nomination in the Maroubra Mile which was Mushaireb and there were 5 extra nominations in the Benchmark 78 including Mushaireb.
We certainly believed on paper at weights and measures we could win either race, however logic took over. Since we were backing up, it was smarter to run in the Open Hcp which was devoid of any leader and we would carry 52.0kgs as opposed to the Bm78 that we would lump 60.0kgs and there were three go forward horses. Even though the 78 was a weaker grade and his peers looked below average, we were aware of the horrible forecast of heat on the day, so we took the kinder option and went to the Open Company.
History now shows it was the right decision.
A change of riding tactic was introduced as was a gear change of swapping from a lugging bit to a Norton bit.
Having been trying to teach MUSHAIREB to settle over the past 8 runs, trainer Richard Freedman after his last start said that he can’t get the horse to settle, so if he wants to lead so be it, he can lead.
So, the race tactic was devised to lead from start to finish on a very fit horse, that we knew would be very strong through the line. The plan was to take his peers out of their comfort zone and make them chase especially in the heat.
Then come the time of the race, there was a gale force north-westerly blowing which was buffering the field from the 600m to the 300m.
Rachel was conscious of the fact that she didn’t want to push our “quirky” horse into the breeze when the race started in earnest and wanted to wait until as long as possible in the straight before giving the go button a push.
That’s exactly how the race unfolded with an 11 out of 10 judged ride by Rachel on a horse that looked a treat, prepared by the Freedman Brothers.
MUSHAIREB jumped cleanly from barrier 1 and went to the lead. Sir Plush (3rd) came over and sat at our girth whilst Reflectivity (2nd) sat behind the leading pair getting a lovely tow into the race and avoiding the wind buffering whilst having a luxury 50.0kgs on his back.
Rachel got Mushaireb into a rhythm peeling off 11.6 and 11.7 sectionals mid-race. As the field hit the wind at the 600m, Rachel knew she had a lap full of horse, so elected not to extend and use petrol into the teeth of the wind but wait until she balanced up into the straight and then, count to 5 before pushing the button.
Whilst Rachel was showing patience, the riders of Sir Plush and Reflectivity were scrubbing their mounts to improve which they did. At the 200m, both Sir Plush and Reflectivity had swooped past MUSHAIREB and from the grandstands and loungerooms, punters were lamenting.
Then Rachel said
“let’s go Mushie” and full of energy and power MUSHAIREB in his own determined style, extended nicely and by the 150m was back in front and extending his lead with such authority, Rachel had a dream run to the line to the extent she was able to ride him softly hands and heels.
Job Done and
$58,000 first prize in the bank.
Rachel King said post-race “He always gets a bit worked up coming out of the yard, he knows what it's all about,'' she said.
“Once you're on him he's happier, he knows he has a job to do. I'm lucky I had a lot to do with him when he was at Randwick.”
Mushaireb started out with Brad Widdup, but was quickly transferred to Randwick to be with Gai and Adrian. He had one start for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in August 2018 but a hoof problem developed and the horse was switched to Richard Freedman who have been in charge for his last eight starts.
Rachel King said when Sir Plush gave her a bump about the 300m it woke him up and he responded to the challenge, kicking back and running down Reflectivity with Sir Plush back into third.
"He showed his fight and fought back hard, he was floating a bit at the top of the straight, so he probably needed a bit of competition. I didn't need it to be that close,'' she said.
A week ago Mushaireb was a beaten favourite in an 1800m race won by Berdibek on the course proper and didn't see a lot of daylight but Freedman says he tends to protect himself when in behind horses.
So, it was announced he'd be leading to take make that quirk less of an issue for Mushaireb and he repaid the punters' faith.
"You never know what you're going to get, I thought half way down the straight he was going to give up the ghost - then he rallies again,'' Freedman said.
"He just has to get his own way at times, we have to train him that way as well, when he's got his mind on the job, he can really gallop. When he fought back, I knew he'd keep fighting back.''
MUSHAIREB has taken his overall career stats to 15 starts: 4-3-2-2-1 & earnings of $187,202.
In Australia he has had 10 starts: 2-3-1-1-1 and earnings of $165,545.
It’s a fantastic feeling when things pay off and this was one of those times.
It was a hollow feeling seven days earlier when a beaten favourite but racing can give massive mood swings and this is one of these times when we caught the express elevator from the outhouse to the penthouse.
Congratulations to the Ownership Team of MUSHAIREB: Dynamic Syndications Racing Synd, Mr G Rassos, Neds Synd, Mr P Yesburg, Mr D A Poletto, Matrix Racing Synd, Mr T Shahabuddin, Mr JV Beresford, Mr PB Duncan, Mr P Paradise, Mrs A T Woollett, Mr H C Leung, Mr G Tew, Mr J Yianni, D J M M Racing Synd , C J R Racing, Mr A D Vella.
Three additional acknowledgements to these owners:
Anne and Peter Woollett upon their first Sydney Saturday winner. Well Done !
John Yianni whose health is preventing him joining our team trackside on racedays. Get well soon John !
George Rassos who missed the race today when working for the noblest of community reasons – George is catering to the head office of the NSW Rural Fire Service and i
s under the pump supplying 500 meals for lunch and dinner daily for our heroic volunteer Fire Fighters and Fire command. Thank You George !
Whilst its always exciting for owners to win races with their horses, the mood for this win was far more subdued because our thoughts and Prayers are with our countrymen and women around Australia whom are suffering terrible tragedies in past days and weeks as a result of bushfires.
Also,
we acknowledge Richard Will and Michael Freedman who are doing such a wonderful job with our
Dynamic Horses. This was the
12th Win for in 12 months the Freedman boys have trained for Dynamic Syndications and our owners.
This win was
Dynamic Syndications 25th Win for the current racing season, our
1st for the new calendar year and our
622nd Overall win.