No I in Everest, but there’s one in Invitation for Concorde flyer

09 Sep 24

The story which appeared in the Sunday Herald by Chris Roots on September 7, 2024 — 6.22pm

Dynamic Syndications boss Dean Watt dented some Everest aspirations in Saturday’s Concorde Stakes with I Am Me but would rather an Invitation than a slot as the spring develops.

While most would be looking for a call from a slot-holder, Watt lowered his sights to the next couple of legs in the Sydney Sprint Series – The Shorts and the Premiere Stakes – and the Invitation.

“She loves Randwick, and we were fairly confident today with the way she has been going,” Watt said.

“The Sprint Series interests us, but the race I think is perfect for her is The Invitation. It’s worth $2 million; we would love to get asked into it.

“Look, The Everest is a great race but there are so many different options for good money, and we can pick what we think is best for her.”

I Am Me followed the leader Way To The Stars into the straight on the fence, which was an advantage all day, at a flying tempo and had a change of pace to put her away.

Only stablemate Bella Nipotina would come near her to challenge, but she held on.

“She was amazing, wasn’t she,” jockey Nash Rawiller said.

“I was surprised, because I really dove through that gap, and as soon as I produced her, I thought I’m in trouble, because Bella Nipotina was coming. It was pretty quick at that point.”

“I thought she’d out-tough me, but I loved the character of my horse.

“She picked up and really just wasn’t going to lay down.”

I Am Me was backed from $11 into $4.80 to nearly start favourite and held a half-neck margin from Bella Nipotina ($4.40 fav), with Way To The Stars ($61) two lengths in their wake.

Bella Nipotina ran home in a remarkable 31.81 seconds for her last 600m from back in the field and could be in line for an Everest call-up this week.

“She was brilliant. We didn’t get the result but the way she went and the way she initially felt after the race, she is in for a great preparation,” Craig Williams said of Bella Nipotina.

Giga Kick was friendless in betting, blowing from $2.80 to $5 in his return after 12 months off the scene because of injury. The 2022 Everest winner travelled strongly but blew out in the final 100m to finish fifth and three lengths behind the winner.

“More than adequate run,” was James McDonald’s assessment.

“He jumped really well, travelled comfortably in a midfield position. He gave me a 150m sprint then levelled out pretty quickly after.

“Obviously sub-32 sectionals late which was pretty hard to do first up after a year, so a very good run.”