WITCHES Casts Spell on Rivals in Winning the Evening Star at Canterbury

19 Jan 19

On a warm, summers Friday night at the ATC’s Canterbury Park, Dynamic Syndications 5yo brown mare WITCHES (Lonhro x Ouija) recorded her Second Sydney win and her 3rd win overall, when taking out the feature race on the programme, race 5 - the $80,000 Ryde Kia - Evening Star over 1550m - A Benchmark 72 event for 5yo’s and upwards.

WITCHES winning the Ryde Kia - Evening Star Bm72 at Canterbury

WITCHES won in a time of 1:33.78 with a last 600m of 35.36 secs.

There are three significant aspects to this win which need to be highlighted.

Firstly, the job being done by Dynamic Trainers RICHARD FREEDMAN and his son WILLIAM FREEDMAN who train at Rosehill.

The boys took over training WITCHES this preparation and are doing splendid work with our honest mare.

This was her third run this preparation, coming into the race off an excellent first up 4th at Randwick’s Kensington track over 1150m followed by another excellent 4th at Randwick’s Kensington circuit over 1300m in Saturday grade last time out.

The RICHARD FREEDMAN Stables are flying at the moment and Dynamic Syndications have several runners with their team and each is racing well.

William Freedman chats to the interviewer post race whilst Adam Watt looks on

It should be noted that WILLIAM appears to have inherited the same polish in front of the camera as his well-known dad and was at ease for the pre-race and post-race interviews.

Secondly, the ride of promising young apprentice BILLY OWEN. He’s not a natural lightweight but he is strong and well balanced and easy to work with.

Dynamic Billy Owen - excellent young apprentice rider

Billy rode to our race plan with perfection and his balance and determination in the saddle proved the difference in a 300m two-horse war down the length of the Canterbury straight.

Thirdly, credit must be given to Dynamic Syndications ADAM WATT who identified the race, identified the rider, and was on-hand to ensure that Billy clearly understood the battle-plan heading into the event. It’s fantastic when plans come together to deliver a result and our Dynamic Owners are the beneficiaries.

Adam Watt receives a congratulation hug from co-owner Adam Turnbull

Originally in a race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday where she looked well placed on form however she had a lot of weight which is not ideal for mares to carry high weights against males, especially in the heat. We also had identified Friday evening’s event which had appeal as she would carry less weight there.

Also the facts were simple – Warwick Farm’s race was a Benchmark 70 worth $22,000 to the Winner whilst Friday’s race was a Benchmark 72 worth $38,750 to the winner so there was another 16,750 reasons to consider Canterbury when we believed our mare had her hoof on the till.

We accepted in the Warwick Farm race which the ATC allocated to be the final race on the programme. We were concerned with the predicted temperatures that the races may be abandoned and that left us with a dilemma. Acceptances for Friday night were not finalised until 90 minutes after scratchings on Wednesday morning.

Did we run at Warwick Farm or did we roll the dice and scratch and accept into Friday night’s event?

History now shows we were correct, however prior to the event, decisions are heavily scrutinised.

Having done the form at nominations, we considered the Friday night race for the extra prizemoney appeared an easier assignment however the size of the field and the barrier draw were unknowns.

Experience has taught us many aspects to the racing industry and especially with mares and weights along with the peculiarities of racing at Canterbury under lights where it is a definite advantage to be an on pace runner.

Also we have always considered that genetically WITCHES is crying out for 1600m but previously, circumstances had prevented the mare being tested at a trip we were confident she could run.

After due consideration, we chose to take a punt and scratch from Wednesday and then accept for Friday night at Canterbury. It proved to be a winning move.

Add in the masterstroke of grabbing Billy Owen to claim a full 3.0kgs resulted in WITCHES carrying just 55.5kgs, a luxury for our mare.

Then when the acceptances came out, it was just a field of 8 runners running for $80,000 in prizemoney and a first prize cheque of $38,750.

Then there were two scratchings to reduce the race to a field of 6 starters.

Tactically this event mapped out very easily to read.

The favourite and eventual runner-up Great Job (59.0kgs) would want to lead and try to stack the field off a muddling tempo with the rest of the 5 runners sitting off it. That would be no advantage to any other runner – especially ourselves.

Our tactics were to be positive from the gates and go hard for 150m. Great Job had drawn outside us and had to carry an extra 3.5kgs weight, we wanted to make him work to cross us. We also knew those drawn under us didn’t have the gate speed to keep us out, so we would either land leading on the fence with Great Job outside us or Great Job spending extra gas getting to the lead.

If it did want to cross us that’s fine, but Billy needed to be aware to come straight off the fence and move up to sit a length off it, on its outside, stalking it and ensuring that the race was run at a true tempo and the leader didn’t get soft sectionals and turn the race into a sit and sprint.

Also, importantly we knew that Great Job had synthetic hoof filler for the first time and that’s a flashing light that the stable had issues with it and it would have needed a change in training regime which suggested it was possibly underdone. Also it was second-up after a break so we wanted to put the acid test to it and make it feel the extra 3.5kgs it had to give us.

The race was run as we had mapped it and an 11 out of 10 ride by Billy Owen was also a telling factor.

Billy jumped WITCHES in a positive fashion and went forward, whilst Great Job was one dimensional and ploughed forward to cross to the fence.

We were sitting in second spot and as Great Job balanced after working to cross us, Billy angled one off the fence and kept WITCHES balanced and in a good rhythm.

As Great Job’s rider then tried to steady the tempo, this allowed WITCHES to move up and sit at its flank without us having to chase to catch it.

The race was on from the 600m, when Great Job started lift the tempo but WITCHES stayed with it.

Then as they swung for home, Great Job with the advantage of the fence slipped 3/4 length in front as they balanced for the run home.

WITCHES took a little time to grind up into top gear but had almost caught Great Job at the 250m and the duo went to war.

With 50m to go, it was tough for our Owners to watch but with 30m left to run, our tactics paid off and WITCHES gained the ascendancy and was strong through the line.

There was an almighty cheer ring out around Canterbury Park as a big team of WITCHES co-owners were on hand to celebrate a tough win by their mare.

Billy Owen was treated like a rock star as he returned to a heaving throng of excited owners and well wishes.

Billy explains to Adam how the ride panned-out perfectly as per Team Tactics

Importantly, WITCHES showed connections that our belief that she wants a mile is warranted and this opens up many opportunities.

WITCHES was turned out in magnificent fashion by Richard and William and aided by excellent tactics, the right distance and a tremendous ride, the planets aligned to provide WITCHES another well-deserved Sydney win.

Also, we thank Richard and William Freedman for being so accommodating to work with. As professional horsemen, their stable are a pleasure to work with and allows the bouncing of ideas and tactics off one another to get a mutual rewarding result.

Our horses always look fantastic in their care and their communication is first class. Add in the fact that the boys also use our veterinarian Dr Tim Roberts to look after Dynamic horses under their care is another major plus and all these one percents add up to racetrack success.

Most importantly, for owners and Team Dynamic, it’s fun being there !

WITCHES has now taken her career to 22 starts: 3 Wins, 3 Seconds, 5 Thirds, 5 Fourths and $169,960 in earnings.

In three starts this preparation for Richard and William, she has returned $48,740 and she has proven herself as a genuine city class mare.

The win of WITCHES recorded Dynamic Syndications 564th Race Win and our 22nd Race Win of this current 2018-19 Racing Season.

Congratulations to the Team that race WITCHES:

Owners in the Winner's Circle

Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr J Z Batori, Mr S Batori, Mr A Turnbull, Mr J Yianni, Mr N W Honey, Mr J P Kelly, Mr S Najda, Mr A M Parish, Mrs T Parish, Mr A H Webster, Mr M Bourne, Mrs K Gatt, Mr C Jackson, Mr L P Kelly, Mr G Miranda, T P Racing Syndicate, Not Friends Syndicate.

Importantly, many of these owners above are long-time, loyal Dynamic Syndications owners and their success is paramount to us and why we enjoy their success at Team Dynamic.

Well Done To Everyone Involved - Onwards and Upwards !

Hoof Note: Dynamic Syndications and Richard / William Freedman have teamed up again with our first yearling buy of 2019.

A spectacular Grey Colt by three time Champion USA Sire TAPIT (USA) from SMOKEY'S LOVE (USA).

Our colt is bred on the TAPIT / FORESTRY Cross which has been replicated

8 times = 7 winners & 1 placed including 2 Stakes Winners.

5% Shares are just $10,000 inc GST and all costs to 30 June. (75% already Sold)

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