“Go to the front and improve on your position.”
Simple enough instructions carried out perfectly by jet pilot Ash Morgan, as our $1.45 favourite STARBOARD (3yo gelding Astern ex Better Life) made it a jog-trot-canter to claim an effortless Class Record victory in Race 6, the METALAND RISING PRINCE CUP SHOWCASE MAIDEN PLATE 1200m at Bathurst on Sunday.
Our Richard and William Freedman trained STARBOARD (56.5kgs) was ridden to perfection, and the $1.45 favourite didn’t let any of his supporters down as he cruised to a 3.91 lengths win over Hard Pick (56.5kgs) with Burgundy Bubbles (56.5kgs) 4.26 lengths third.
Such was the dominance; STARBOARD was never challenged and ran for fun when he stopped the clock in a new Class Record time of 1:10.27 which had previously been held by ANTONIA'S PRINCESS since 2007 at 1:10.50.
STARBOARD was away smartly, and Ash allowed our dynamic galloper to get into a rhythm as the Dynamic Duo strode across to control the tempo from the fence. From the 1000m to the winning post, STARBOARD was never challenged. Ash rated him perfectly in front and was still able to sprint away from the 300m under hands and heels.
STARBOARD still has a lot to learn, as he stargazed a bit down the straight, and then ducted away from the infield boards approaching the line.
However, he will improve significantly from this effort, and the raceday travel experience. He appears to have several lengths improvement still to come with basic fitness and racecraft education.
We have known for some time he was handy, but he has been a bit slow in grasping the racecraft aspects. He had trialed very well over the shorter trips which gave us confidence; however we knew he would be suspect with fitness and racecraft at his debut run at Kembla in a Super Maiden over 1200m.
We chose to race there, rather than another trial because we felt he would learn more from the raceday experience.
He ran up to our trust in him, finishing 0.8 length runner-up and picked up $10,350 prizemoney to classy runner in Rhythm of Love. That form was franked when the winner subsequently came out and was a close second at Warwick Farm. Next the horse that finished third in the race named Diamond Lucy, came out and won at its next start at Kembla.
So, the formlines were strong enough for us to be very confident heading back to country grade in a Showcase Maiden and he didn’t disappoint.
With the improvement in fitness and education, this was a confidence building exercise for the horse and connections. We believe strongly that he is looking for much further so to race the way he did here over a sharp 1200m was very encouraging.
Having ticked this box, and laid the correct foundations, we can now progress to towards several other options we have identified on the next 2-3 weeks.
STARBOARD’s race career now reads: 2 Starts: 1-1-0 and $30,975.
CONGRATULATIONS to our Ownership Team that race STARBOARD: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr G J Cooper, Mr A S Taylor, Mr J Golebiowski, Mr S L Williams, Mr G S J England, Mr G Tew, Mr S Troughton, Mr D J Ricketts, Mr I Martin, Mr D N Helton, Mr M P Lockwood, Mr S R Freeman, Mr J R Carter
Starboard - Winner 24.9.23 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
This win by STARBOARD was Dynamic Syndications 13th Race Win for the new Racing Season.
He also became our 293rd Individual Winner from 332 Individual Runners (88.3%) and our 841st Race Win overall.
ONWARDS and UPWARDS – FOREVER FORWARD!