Sizzling OODNADATTA Scalds His Peers in Dynamic 2YO Debut

07 Jun 24

Dynamic Syndications and the Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr Stable look to have an extremely promising 2yo Colt in the form of OODNADATTA (Too Darn Hot ex La La Luchie) who WON with authority in slick time on debut at Geelong on Thursday afternoon.

OODNADATTA flew to win on debut

The aptly named OODNADATTA received his moniker in recognition of the country town in South Australia which has recorded Australia’s Hottest Temperature at 50.7 degrees.

And like his namesake, OODNADATTA sizzled on a Good 4 track with still plenty of juice under foot yet when he stopped the clock under hands and heels of Beau Mertens as our Dynamic Duo had stopped the clock in a quick 1:11.06 for the 1200m.

To put that time into perspective, it was fastest of the 4 races over the 1200m trip on the day.

The other 3 races for the older horses were: Race 2 - 3yo & Up Mdn 1:11.22, Race 5 - Benchmark 58 1:11.31, Race 6 another Bm58 ran 1:11.36.

OODNADATTA stopped the clock in 1:11.06 which rated being 6.8 lengths faster than standard time for this age/grade/conditions and was just 0.20 sec outside the Class Record set way back on 26 June 2003 by Recapitalize in 1:10.86.

Punters didn’t forget to back OODNADATTA either as his price tumbled from $2.40 on race morning into the red and by the time they kicked off, he was sent out as $1.60 favourite against a race which appeared to have good depth in its exposed form and promising spruik horses engaged.

Plenty had heard the spruik on OODNADATTA after some very encouraging trials and private jump outs, and it was just a matter of identifying the right race to start his career.

Being a well-bred colt and with lofty ambitions for a Spring programme that will aim at serious black-type races, then from his resume viewpoint, it was vital that we raced as a 2yo and won, which he achieved.

With a pedigree suggesting he will be far better suited once he gets out in trip to a mile or even further, races like the Caulfield Guineas in the Spring are his immediate main target.

OODNADATTA as a yearling

Identified at the Magic Millions Sale in 2023, Lot 34 was this superb colt by an intriguing First Crop Sire in TOO DARN HOT (by Dubawi). He was the Champion 2yo and Champion 3yo of Europe winning 6 races -4 at 2- over 1400m to 1600m including 3 Gr1 wins. Dynamic Syndications liked his racing pattern and style and being a son of champion Dubawi, we backed the stallion buying his progeny.

This colt was from LA LA LUCHIE (by Medaglia d’Oro) who won 4 races from 1350m to 1800m.

She is a full-sister to 3-time stakes placed Battle Brewing, and a half-sister to GO INDY GO (Gr1 ATC Champagne S., and Gr3 SAJC Sires Produce S.) and she is a half-sister to ESSAY RAIDER (Gr3 Winning - Gr2, Gr3 & LR placed).

OODNADATTA’S 2nd Dam is ELEGANT EAGLE (by Zabeel) who won from 1417m to 2600m.

ELEGANT EAGLE is the Full-Sister to the Dam of SOUTHERN SPEED (Gr1 Caulfield Cup; Gr2 Makybe Diva S; Gr3 Vanity S.; and 4-times Gr1 placed).

Whilst genetically Dubawi over Medaglia d’Oro rates highly as internationally an A 237% score and Geographically as an A 229% rating score.

However, the Colt sold himself to us. We rated him on type as an 8+ physical rating, clean on X-rays and Grade 1 Scope. That ranked him at the TOP of our inspection lists.

TOO DARN HOT - Champion 2yo & 3yo - Leading First Crop Sire

Team Dynamic purchased two (2) yearlings by TOO DARN HOT and we have been handsomely rewarded already as TOO DARN HOT is on fire as a new sire, and OODNADATTA became his 11th Individual Winner for the season.

That ranks him clearly as the Number 1 First Crop Sire in Australia by both Earnings and by Winners over in second spot Tassort.

Whilst TOO DARN HOT is also 2nd Overall on the General 2YO Sires Premiership by Earnings with $3,460,325 behind WRITTEN TYCOON and ahead of third placed JUSTIFY.

Whilst TOO DARN HOT (11) sits in third spot on the General 2YO Sires Premiership by Winners – just one win behind the current joint leaders WRITTEN TYCOON & SNITZEL (12).

Importantly we also identified that this Colt was eligible for both BOBS and VOBIS Extra prizemoney.

Having ranked the Colt so highly we were keen to buy him, and we achieved out goal when the hammer fell to our bid of $195,000 + GST.

Mick Price & Adam Watt

The under bidder was Mick Price who loved him as much as we did. Together we have had a lot of success. We hadn’t finished signing the buyers acknowledgement form when Mick came over to our table and asked could he train the colt for us if he purchased 50%? The answer was of course – Yes, and we were able to change the buyers form there and then to represent both of our teams as the buyer of the Colt.

SHANE ROSE educating OODNADATTA

From the time Shane Rose threw a saddle on the colt’s back and rode him around the early education training tracks and paddocks he believed we may have a nice colt on our hands. Then the colt went to Melbourne and the “Mick Squared” Team have been giving warm and fuzzy feedback but we haven’t wanted to get too far in front of ourselves. Just let OODNADATTA do the talking.

The acid test was applied on Thursday and the result was an encouraging win.

The team plan was to be positive and land in the first three to take away early bad luck or being checked or blocked for a run.

In his jump outs he has shown gatespeed and we were confident he would be in a positive position and our speed map had Dreamwriter (Craig Williams) holding the fence. Tactically, we were keen if possible, for Beau Mertens to push up and sit at the girth of the leader, just like he would do in trackwork, then accelerate after balancing into the straight.

The form of DREAMWRITER was strong having race fitness and experience on his side, with two starts for twice runner-up. Eventual fourth placed WARPARTY had good form lining up here having had two starts for a close fifth then a last start fourth in the Adelaide 2YO Magic Millions Classic, but we felt his exposed racing pattern would see him get too far back. Whilst there were rumours about on the first starter TREASURETHE MOMENT who was backed from $14 into $9.50.

Things didn’t quite go to plan as the gates crashed back OODNADATTA hesitated slightly and was clearly second last of the 11-horse field to hop out of the machines.
However, Beau didn’t stress and gave our colt a squeeze and the pair strolled up to sit second to Dreamwriter who as expected, had rolled to the front and followed the paint which is an advantage.

As they settled, the field had established as predicted with Dreamwriter sitting on the paint, OODNADATTA at his girth, Treasurethe Moment one/one whilst Warparty was back midfield but 3-deep facing the breeze.

There were no changes in order until the 500m on the swing into the home turn when the riders started to improve.

Warparty got going to be on the back of Treasurethe Moment, who was on the back of OODNADATTA, who was eyeballing Dreamwriter as they field thundered into the straight.

Passing the 300m the race was on, and every runner had its opportunity. Craig Williams and Dreamwriter were in full flight trying to withstand the challenge of OODNADATTA as Beau Mertens was asking our galloper to extend.

Treasurethe Moment was giving his all but couldn’t catch OODNADATTA but had worked up to eyeball Dreamwriter whilst the hard work was seeing Warparty starting to run on fumes.

At the 200m Beau pushed the “go-button” on OODNADATTA and our galloper responded putting a length between him and the chasers and with 50m to run, the race was over, allowing Beau the chance to idle down and cross the line under hands and heels for a comfortable one length victory.

As the camera flashed for second place, it couldn’t split Dreamwriter and TreasretheMomnet who dead-heated for the runner-up spot, with a half-length back to Warparty who was a gallant fourth.

Job Done!

Beau Merten was interviewed by Racing.com and the interviewer started by saying: “Beau, not the quickest out of the gates but once you got him to muster it looked pretty straight forward.”

Beau responded: “Yeah, he wasn’t fast, but he’s a horse that knows what he’s doing, and when he’s out there, he’s doing most things right, and I was able to give him a little bit of a squeeze, and he took up into hand really well, and I was able to establish a nice position without doing no work.”

The interviewer then asked: “Does he feel like a horse with a fair degree of upside?”

Beau answered: “I reckon. I’ve had a fair bit to do with him now, I did a couple of trials, and his previous gallop said this horse is doing really, really well. He’s just improved every time I’ve sat on him. And so, I think he’s going to do the same at the races.”

Racing.com then added: “First use of the track, what did it feel like to you?”

Beau said: “Oh it felt quite nice, a little bit of give out of it, it is definitely sitting around that 4 to 5 mark. Thank you.”

OODNADATTA had won Race 1: The bet365 2YO Maiden Plate (1200m) earning: $29,025 being $20,625 first prize cheque plus a VOBIS Silver Bonus: $8,400.

Congratulations to the Mick “Squared” Team for the way they presented OODNADATTA to the races in fine order, fit, well and ready for his first-up assignment. Also, to Beau Mertens who had done a lot of the foundation steering at trackwork and jump outs and knew what he had under saddle but still had to overcome the tardy start to be able to swoop to the lead in the straight.

Importantly a big congratulations to our galloper OODNADATTA who uplifted from morning glory to racetrack pressure with flying colours.

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the Dynamic Team that race the well named OODNADATTA: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr J M Nassim, Mrs K J Mitchell, Mr S D Murray, Hong Kong Bloodstock, Mr M A Cowley, Ms P Speight, Mrs P Muller, Mrs M Clark, Mr W C Bradnam, Ms J Crewes, Mr M J Davidson, Latrobe Valley Racing, Mr Z Gocturk, Mr A M Kerr, Mr C J Martin, Mr M M Dwyer, WCR Racing