PIGGYBACK Powers Home in Record Run Over 2200m at Doomben

She gave the boys weight and a cold in a sizzling display as Dynamic Syndications’ tough 5yo mare PIGGYBACK (by Trapeze Artist ex Wowee) rose to the challenge of a staying trip on Saturday 6/9/25 producing a strong performance to claim Race 3 – the SKY RACING Benchmark 78 Handicap (2200m) at Doomben. 


PIGGYBACK defeats AKKADIAN EMPEROR & SO YOU ARE over 2200m

Asked to lump 57.5kgs as a Mare over the testing 2200m, PIGGYBACK was the highest Benchmark Rated horse (Bm77) in the race and she gave away 4.5kgs to the male runner-up AKKADIAN EMPEROR and 2.0kgs to the male third-placed horse SO YOU ARE. 

This was an extremely strong effort at this testing trip. PIGGYBACK stopped the clock in a sizzling 2:13.81 with a slick last 600m in 34.87. 


PIGGYBACK hands and heels smashes the clock!

To put things into perspective, PIGGYBACK smashed the clock!

She set a new Bm78 Class Record, despite giving weight away to the males, and she ran one of the fastest times ever recorded at the historic track for the 2200m trip. 

FACT: Only 4 Open Class race records have been established at a quicker tempo among the 36 Classes of races run at the Doomben 2200m with records having been established as far back as 1991.

2:11.67  DEFIER   58.0kgs  Gr1 Doomben Cup 29/5/2004
2:13.37  ZEPHYRON  54.0kgs  LR Premiers Cup 24/5/2014
2:13.58  DISTINCTLY SECRET  55.5kgs  LR Rough Habit 25/5/2002
2:13.70  JACANARCHIE   53.0kgs  Open Hcp 23/5/1998
2:13.81  PIGGYBACK  57.5kgs  BM78 6/9/2025


PIGGYBACK to Strong

Most Important to note is PIGGYBACK is now the FASTEST MARE of all 8 Mares across the 36 Classes to have established a Class Record. 

PIGGYBACK lowered the time of the mare VAUX who 27 years ago had established a Class 6 Record in July of 1998 on a Firm 2 surface of 2:13.86 (36.77) when carrying only 53.0kgs. 

PIGGYBACK’S time was even faster than the legendary WINX who established a 3yo Fillies Open Record of 2:14.09 (34.95) when carrying 56.5kgs at Set Weights winning the 2015 Queensland Oaks Gr1.

Piggyback under the guidance of jockey Ben Thompson, had travelled sweetly in running, and as they turned for home, Piggyback unleashed a decisive surge from the top of the straight. 

Despite the late challenge of Akkadian Emperor (IRE) (53.0kgs), with its 4.5kgs pull in the weights, it tried hard but couldn’t reel-in a gallant Piggyback. 

As the race caller noted in his summary, “Akkadian Emperor was in for a challenge and tried hard, but try as he might, he couldn’t peg back Piggyback.”

The race call captured her progress in the race perfectly:

“Canberra Legend is holding the lead from June, now Piggyback, the jockey was able to tuck in and get into a spot third, one out / one back, and So You Are, its main rival, is fourth on the inside…”

“The visiting Sydney siders are 3rd and 4th as they went by the mile.

“With 600 metres to go, the first mile in 1:39.07. Canberra Legend in front, So You Are pushing off the rail, Piggyback making its run with So You Are, then came June who has called it a day, Akkadian Emperor to the outside.

“In the straight, Canberra Legend, So You Are and Piggyback on the outside and soon afterwards Piggyback and So You Are run to the lead, Akkadian Emperor still running on.

“Piggyback has got the lead, Akkadian Emperor is trying hard, they have got 50m to go, Piggyback in full flight, the leader hanging on and gripping on, Piggyback Won! Beat Akkadian Emperor, third over the line So You Are in a driving finish.”

The official placings were:

1st PIGGYBACK 5yo mare ($318,150) (Ciaron Maher / Ben Thompson) 57.5kgs, $3.80

2nd Akkadian Emperor (IRE) 5yo geld ($149,226), (Annabel & Rob Archibald / Heavelon Van Der Hoven) – 0.55Len, 53.0kgs, $5.50

3rd So You Are 4yo geld ($109,475) (Stirling Osland / Ben Looker) – 1.63Lens, 55.5kgs, $3.70 fav


PIGGYBACK looked a class above in the pre-race parade

Despite drifting in the market late from $2.90 to $3.80, Piggyback stamped her authority and stamina, showcasing Piggyback’s progression into a genuine staying mare under the expert training of Ciaron Maher.


PIGGYBACK & BEN THOMPSON returns to scale a Winner !

Piggyback held firm to score by 0.55 lengths in a time of 2:13.81, with a slick last 600m in 34.87. 

The $85,000 race carried a winner’s cheque of $48,800.


Jockey Ben Thompson shows a big grin !

The effort has resulted in Piggyback seeing her Benchmark Rating being raised from Benchmark 75 to a Benchmark 80 in NSW, and up from a Benchmark 77 to a Benchmark 82 in Queensland. 

This latest triumph also marked Piggyback’s first win at 2200m, confirming a new dimension to her profile.

Already successful at distances from 1200m to 2000m, our Team have always believed she would run out a strong 2400m + and she has proved she can stretch her brilliance beyond the classic mile-and-a-quarter with this 2200m victory.

Piggyback is thriving this preparation. From her 7 starts this time in, she has won 2 Races, once on a Heavy 10 over 1300m Warwick Farm and now on a Good 4 at 2200m at Doomben. Along with 3 Thirds (Rosehill (2), Randwick) and 2 fourths (Randwick) she has banked $133,400.

With her versatility across distances and conditions, despite creeping up in class and weights, she appears to have more happy racetrack occasions in store. 

However, her placement has been perfect, and she has worked through her grades and has claimed as much of the low hanging fruit as possible. 

Now those races have been exhausted, she must step forward and take on top credentialed stayers in open company stakes class events.


Longtime loyal Dynamic Syndications Owners trackside Stuart Lamont & Be Be + the Brereton Family


CONGRATULATIONS to her Dynamic Ownership Team – They had plenty to cheer about as the mare delivered a memorable Queensland success: Dynamic Syndications Racing (Mr D Watt), Mr S D Murray, Mr S J Brereton, Mr P S Chiu, Mr M R Egan, Mr M R Alston, Mr L C Griffiths, Mr A L Giddings, Ya Beaten, Dr J Caspersz, Mr R Boekel, Mr S L Lamont, Pig Sty, Mr J Yianni, TS, Ohh Eight, Mr G R Glynn

PIGGYBACK was a $27,000 + GST purchase for Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock from the Magic Millions Online Sale on 9 September 2022. She was syndicated at the bargain basement price of $3,750 + GST per 5% Share, and has taken her career record to: 

16 Starts: 5 Wins, 0 Seconds, 4 Thirds, 3 Fourths, 2 Fifths and Earnings: $318,150 

Her 5 Wins include 3 Metropolitan Wins at Randwick, Warwick Farm and Doomben. 

Winning Distances: 1200m, 1300m 1410m, 2000m, 2200m.

Jockey Ben Thompson reported to the owner’s post-race: 



“Well done Team. Superbly placed by the Team. 

“She enjoyed herself on a dry footing. She didn’t jump that well, which has obviously been a trait of hers and albeit, it was our plan to be up in the first few and were open to leading, I didn’t want to drive her mad off that (start), I just helped her regather and let it unfold. 

“We found ourselves one out / one back, which was perfect and the horse to beat (So You Are) was on our inside, and I was aware that Akkadian Emperor was the other one to beat of Annabel’s, and it followed us. 

“Once we started our run, the horse on the inside (So You Are) had the better of those we were following, and I thought that having had a very conservative run and hard fit, I’d just slide up with it from the 600m, and have the next one to beat off the bit chasing. She (Piggyback) she was strong late, and where it was a battle of attrition the last 100m our mare came up trumps, so well done! Thank you for the ride.”

REPLAY