It took to only the 4th race into the new calendar year for
Team Dynamic to post our
first win of 2018.
Trainer BRAD WIDDUP, Jockey CHRISTIAN REITH and DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS continued on our winning way when contesting Race 4 on the programme, the
TATTERSALES CLUB Handicap over 1200m with our highly promising 4yo mare
WITCHES (Lonhro x Quija).
The win was deeply satisfying to our team, as it also marked the
first win at Headquarters for the exceptionally talented young trainer Brad Widdup.
This was also Brad’s 24th Winner from 91 Runners for the current season.
Equally it was important to many new owners to racing whom were experiencing racehorse ownership for the first time.
A win at Royal Randwick on New Year’s Day with a mare having her first start under our ownership was certainly special to a large group of owners who were on hand to cheer their mare home.
Special mention must also go to
our jet pilot Christian Reith, who was patient and picked his way through the field from second last, some 8 lengths off the leaders at the 600m, to weave a magical passage and when the gap came at the 400m
Witches was dominant, letting down with such a rush running down the favourite and leader in the shadows of the post to record a Head by 1.25 Lens in 1:09.59 and her last 600m in 34.39.
WITCHES was purchased by Dynamic Syndications for $66,000 inc GST at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne August Tried Horse Sale. Today was her first start for Team Dynamic and our top group of owners.
What a way to start your association with racing as many of her owners were heading to the races as owners for the first time.
To take a tried horse and polish her into a Randwick Winner and bank $27,460 prizemoney in the process and make this beautifully bred mare into a desirable broodmare prospect was our intention when we purchased her and the dream has turned into reality already.
Witches jumped cleanly and was quickly into stride however she was beaten for early pace.
Anticipating that could happen from her previous raceform, it was no surprise to see Witches drift back to second last position. Tactically we had hoped to be one pair further forward but Christian Reith didn’t panic. He displayed a cool head, he wasn’t bustled. He allowed Witches to find her feet and rhythm.
1000m
800m
600m
At the 600m he started to tack onto the back of the pack and then took the gamble to cut along the fence for the next 200m.
400m
At the 400m she had caught the field and a gap appeared between runners allowing Christian to guide her into that gap and give chase.
200m
100m
50m
Winning Post
She came with such a rush that she gobbled-up the ground between her and the leader and then in the shadows of the post, she went past the favourite to score by a Head.
There was a big team of our owners on hand to witness this fantastic victory.
Sky Channel personality and interviewer Richard Haynes said “I know its only the 1st January but we might not get that bid a cheer for the Everest Winner this year !”
“The Witches crew are ecstatic, as they should be, they have gone nuts here, their mare has won here first-up, a new acquisition to the stable, well done to Dean and Adam from Dynamic, they have got the owners in here, well done to Brad Widdup, and a lovely Christian Reith ride.”
“I hope the Winners bar is well stocked up here whether they’re drinking lemonade or light beer, I don’t know but New Year’s Day what a day for the connections of Witches, a daughter of Lonhro, she wins first up, she comes back to scale, to meet Brad Widdup.”
Racing expert Lizzie Jeffs said "Witches just had a lovely run, on the fence, she bided her time, ridden patiently, she just snuck up the fence there, and it was just a beautiful ride from Christian Reith, the favourite Pirapala, Jason Collet gave her every chance, there were no excuses for her, she hit the line hard but she just bumped into one that had a little more tenacity, today.”
Richard Haynes then interviews Brad Widdup: “Brad, some very happy connections here and what a good first up win by the mare.”
Brad replied: “Yes it was, he (Christian Reith) rode him a treat, she’s a good finisher, he cut the corner and she finished strong, it was a great effort.”
RH: “The trials coming into this were nice, what was your level of confidence coming in here?”
BW: “Well, if you look at her first trial it was a pretty strong trial and after her second trial Corey (Brown) jumped off her and said he was very happy with her so, I was pretty confident getting those sought of words off Corey.”
RH: "You know these Godolphin horses a little bit and Dynamic, they have done this before, Miami Dade for example, these ex-Godolphin horses, they come into your yard, and some nice results here.”
BW: “Yes they have, you know Dynamic came to me at the right time, I was starting to panic a bit, I didn’t have any numbers or older horses and I got the call, and you know we have had a bit of luck and its great to win a race at Randwick.”
RH: “Where’s this mare rate with you?”
BW: “She’s a very honest mare, and we will go through our grades now but it was great.”
RH: “A few punters over here are happy with you, that was loud when she hit the line.”
BW: “Well we were hoping she would and she has!”
Next Lizzie Jeffs interviewed rider Christian Reith:
LJ: “Well done Christian, it was a beautiful ride up along the fence, you must have been full of confidence after trialling her?”
CR: “Yes she has been pleasing at home and she hadn’t had the blinkers on in the trials, you always save it for racedays and Brad had her in pristine condition today and we were very confident going into the race, she just needed the right run and we were able to do that. On Friday I went a bit early on one (Chilcotin) and got into trouble so today, I waited a lot longer and we were able to get the coin.”
LR: “She showed a bit of tenacity today, going through that pair of horses and darting through the inside.”
CR: “Yes and I had a horse full of running and she was able to get to the runs quick enough to get through them. It’s a great pleasure to be able to kick off the New Year for my brother-in-law (Brad Widdup) and Dynamic and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come this year.”
Richard Haynes added further commentary saying: “You listen to Brad say I’m glad that Dynamic came to me at that time, I was getting a bit worried but Brad has nothing to worry about ….. Brad has had a terrific grounding and his training career is off to a really good start. Witches too good, Pirapala tried hard and stuck to her guns for second.”
Witches has now taken her racing resume to 12 Starts: 2 Wins, 2 Seconds, 3 Thirds and $85,750.
Congratulations goes to her very excited new Ownership Team on having a Wonderful First Day at the Track:
Dynamic Syndications Racing Syndicate, Mr J Z Batori, Mr S Batori, Mr A Turnbull, Mr J Keeley, 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.
Dynamic Syndications, Brad Widdup and Christian Reith just 12 days ago won at Canterbury with the very promising WE HAVE LIFT OFF and now on New Year’s Day, it was very satisfying to be back in the winner’s circle, this time at Royal Randwick.
Witches recorded the 10th Race Win for the Brad Widdup / Team Dynamic combination:
CHILCOTIN (2), PLESANTRIES (2), WE HAVE LIFT OFF, MIAMI DADE, CAPEBEEL, I AM SPECIAL, OVERREACTIVE and now WITCHES joins our growing list.
For TEAM DYNAMIC the win by WITCHES was our 512th Race Win since our first runner was a Winner on the 22nd October 2005.
Witches became our 178th Individual Winner from 191 Individual Runners (93.2%) and she recorded our 25th Race Win for this 2017-18 Racing Season.