SONORA says SAYONARA to her Peers with Dazzling Display of Speed and Class

04 Feb 23

With Back-to-Back Metropolitan wins, it has proven to be a terrific investment for Dynamic Syndications and our ownership team, when we purchased a 50% Share in the highly promising 4yo mare SONORA (So You Think x Spurs And Sashes by Flying Spur) to race the mare in co-ownership with Kevin Maloney and his Segenhoe Stud team.

Our CIARON MAHER and DAVID EUSTACE trained mare looked a treat in the pre-race parade and raced right up to her looks, with a dominant display and it proved the easiest victory of the 10 race programme at Royal Randwick.

Many followers may not have identified the colours SONORA carries, but we are delighted to acknowledge our co-owners, and the breeder of SONORA - Kevin Maloney’s Segenhoe Stud whose Red Silks with yellow seems and yellow cap are industry renowned.

To acknowledge Dynamic Syndications 50% equity, the colours now have our Dynamic Syndications Red Cap and the mare wears our Dynamic Syndications Blinkers.

SONORA was scheduled to run in a Gr3 at Sandown on the same day, but we also looked towards Sydney, and found two suitable events over 1300m and 1600m. We chose to accept in all three races and look and see what our best option was, and it was an easy decision for us to take our place in the 1300m against her own sex.

So we lined up in Race 5, the Congratulations Sam & David Handicap, a Bm 78 for Fillies & Mares over 1300m.

SONORA won in a slick time of 1:16.46 last 600m 34.54 secs.

SONORA defeated Grande Ramoure by 1.68 Lengths, with Anagain 0.2 Length back in third.

Having identified this race as the perfect option, SONORA jumped on the truck and came up to the Warwick Farm stables to head to the races at Randwick.

The Sydney market discounted her Melbourne form, and backed others around her to their detriment, as SONORA landed some nice bets when supported from $9.0 into $5.50 as they jumped.

Tactically, it was obvious on paper that Mosht Up would over race and lead, especially with a 3.0kg apprentice on top from the outside barrier. We knew we had the pace to lead if we pushed, but the plan was to take a sit behind the expected leader and let that mare take us into the race.

As the gates crashed back, as expected Mosht Up flew the gates from out wide, and we were directly underneath it.

SONORA with Brenton Avdulla as her jet pilot, he grabbed hold of our mare and let the leader go and cross to the fence. Brenton then followed her across, and was able to get in to trail the leader, as the field quickly strung out over a dozen or more lengths, after the first 300m.

SONORA stayed in this position until the 800m when sudden pace was injected from the two trailing us in third and fourth who wanted to improve their positions, and as a result force us into a pocket behind a leader that was certainly going to hit a wall.

At the 650m Brenton was a wake-up to what was happening and quickly angled off the fence to the outside of the leader, which forced the improving Super Bright out 3 deep, whilst Rupertaar sat in fourth spot stalking the leading three.

Trapped three deep, the wasted effort by Super Bright countered for nought, as its rider elected to go back into a trailing position, as the two leaders started to swing into the home straight.

As SONORA balanced up to the outside of Mosht Up at the top of the straight, Brenton slipped her a little rein and SONORA powered to the lead. Then as they passed the 300m mark, Brenton pushed the go button and extended away, and was 2 lengths in front with 200m to run.

It was all over at this stage and the margin was easily being maintained.

Looking at the large infield screen, Brenton had the luxury of a lounge chair ride to the line easing down the final 30 meters.

As the camera flashed, $76,250 popped into the bank account and our mare stamped her credentials for some better class races in the coming weeks.

Typical of the SO YOU THINK progeny, the 4yo mare had shown ability early days, but has now developed and matured into her frame, and gives us plenty of options to be winning more races under the excellent care and training from all the team at Ciaron Maher Racing, Australia’s Leading Stable.

The win was no surprise to connections, as we believed she would have been very competitive in the Gr3 at Sandown, because coming into this weekend she was fourth up, with a head second placing at Sandown, and then an easy win at Sandown her past two starts.

CONGRATULATIONS to the TOP TEAM of Co-Owners that together race SONORA: Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia, Dynamic Syndications Racing, Ms J Stewart, L E Neven, J M Nassim, J P Brennan, T M Barclay, S Najda, S D Murray, Dr F A Novy & J P Kennedy

This win advances our mares career record to: 11 starts: 4 Wins, 1 Second, 3 Thirds & $167,840.

Interestingly, whilst she has a wonderful record on top of the ground with 6 stars: 3-1-1 what’s scary for the future is she is more effective with some give in the ground, so Autumn and Winter certainly appeal.

This Win was Dynamic Syndications 16th City Win for the current season, and 38th win for the season to date, whilst Sonora recorded our 808th Race Win overall.

It follows on from a metro double last weekend and was our 5th Metro winner for the new calendar year.

Importantly it continues our wonderful run of success we are achieving with the team at Ciaron Maher Racing, and we are delighted to be helping the stable maintain their lead in the Australian Trainers Premiership, despite their main rivals having 300+ more runners.

It’s this strong relationship we have with Ciaron, David and all the team at their stables, that was a major catalyst to work together at the Magic Millions this year and place eight wonderful yearlings into their stables, with the six colts marked as genuine stallion prospects of the future.

You’re invited to join us!