SAINT OF KATOWICE in WONDERFUL WIN for CIARON MAHER Team

08 Jul 21

Dynamic Syndications exciting UK Import SAINT OF KATOWICE (IRE) produced his third WIN for this preparation when easily accounting for his peers with a 2-length romp to claim the Mercedes Benz Mornington / RML Investments - Rising Star Race – a Benchmark 64 over 1600m at Cranbourne on Thursday afternoon.

SAINT OF KATOWICE (IRE) 4yo Bay Gelding by ELZAAM from SILESIAN (IRE) was sent out a $2.40 favourite ridden by apprentice Josh Richards. They defeated ELVARIC ($4.80) into second, who finished a nose in front of LORD WONDER ($3.70) back in third.

SAINT OF KATOWICE (IRE) has taken his career record to: 13 starts = 3 : 6 : 2 & Prizemoney: $69,415

This preparation he has raced 5 times: 3 : 1 : 0 & earned $50,250

Purchased at the Tattersalls UK sale as a 6-start maiden but he had run 4 seconds and 2 thirds, this is his second preparation in Australia.

SAINT OF KATOWICE (IRE) after we purchased him in the UK at the Quarantine Station before travel.

At his first preparation which was all about acclimatisation to Australian conditions, he only had two starts, for a first start nose second at Wyong and then, he pulled up with an issue out of his second start at Canterbury when unplaced behind April Rain.

A short spell and back to the track and ready to go, he resumed on 16 April where we took him to the country at Swan Hill to break his maiden and give him some confidence, which he achieved with a 4-length training gallop win.

We then took him to Kyneton on 3 May, where he lumped a massive 63.5kgs over 1450m and still won eased down by 3.25 lengths.

We brought him to Sydney Saturday class on 22 May third race back, over 1500m but he wasn’t suited in that run and faded out of that race to finish unplaced, so we packed him off back to Victoria.

We gave him 3 weeks to get over that run and sent him to Ballarat on the Synthetic track over 1400m where he carried 60.5kgs and got well back out of his ground and travelled very deep throughout to finish runner-up by a head. That day he was stargazing and kept ducking in despite the torrid run. Any luck in that run he would have easily had his photo taken again.

He went back to the races here at Cranbourne for the first time out to 1600m and had a major gear change where the horse wore blinkers for the first time. His effort in the run was never a concern for connections and favourite backers as impressive apprentice Josh Richards rode the perfect race. Again, it was more like trackwork than a competitive assignment as the Dynamic Duo gave nothing else a chance when recording a comfortable victory.

Turned out in impeccable order by the Team at Ciaron Maher Racing for this apprentice only event, which is a Heat of the Rising Star Series, SAINT TO KATOWICE looked the winner in the pre-race parade on his presentation and raced accordingly.

Pre-race tactics were to take bad luck out of the equation by being positive for the first furlong. If any of the other apprentices wanted to go hard, let them go and stalk them or if they look at each other, go to the front.

It was Plan A that came into effect as a $101 outsider Franquin just took off to control the speed and Josh summed up things quickly and took hold of SAINT OF KATOWICE. He dropped in 3 lengths behind that runner, with the balance of the field sitting a further few lengths away.

Approaching the 600m, Josh clicked-up our horse and strode up to be eye-balling the leader as they began the swing into the home straight. As the field flattened out for the run home, Josh angled out to the centre of the track, away from the inferior ground closer to the rail and gave SAINT OF KATOWICE his head, and the pair dashed away, giving nothing else a hope.

He pushed the go button at the 200m and left the opposition in his wake and Josh had the luxury of an armchair ride over the final 100m.

As the flash went off SAINT OF KATOWICE (IRE) had crossed the line eased down for a soft two length win.

The commentator referring to the race sponsors post-race said: “The Mercedes-Benz Mornington – he (Saint Of Katowice) was going like one, the Best Bet gets in for his third win from 13 starts but he’s run 8 placings, but there was no thinking about it, he was strong to the post in the Dynamic Syndications colours for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, continuing to churn out the winners.”

Stable representative Leigh Allen said: "The stable has a big opinion of this gelding, he’s going through his grades, he went to Saturday racing in Sydney but back in grade he’s going well. With blinkers on and stepping up to the mile that looks his right distance.”

Jockey Josh Richards rode positively, began the horse well with its blinkers on, could get that spot forward, and then the key move was to ease out of that speed battle.

Josh commented: “Yeah he was able to ease out of that speed and let the leader run along and I settled him nicely just off it and he worked up quite easily. I’ve been getting great support of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, they’ve been giving me good rides and plenty of opportunities, its great to have a stable like that behind you.”

Congratulations to our Dynamic Ownership Team that races SAINT OF KATOWICE (IRE): Dynamic Syndications Racing (Mgr: D W Watt), Mrs A T Woollett, P J Woollett, S J Koukoulas, G Tew, D P Lacey, J P Maxwell, Mrs J Quinlan, The Templar Syndicate (Mgr: M F Timothee), C L Przibella, G Downard & Almighty Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: B K Ong)

This win recorded DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS 64th RACE WIN for this 2020-21 Racing Season, and our 718th Race Win Overall.

It also kept up Team Dynamic’s nice wave of success being our 6th Race Win in the past 11 days.