WOWEE PIGGYBACK WINS Gr3 COLIN STEPHEN NOW AIMS AT Gr1 METROPOLITAN WITH 50KG

Dynamic Syndications’ outstanding 5yo mare PIGGYBACK (by Trapeze Artist from Wowee) produced the staying performance of her career at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, claiming the Group 3 $251,000 Asahi Super Dry Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) in brilliant fashion.



With Tim Clark guiding her through a rails-hugging ride,





Piggyback surged late to defeat her favoured stablemate Juja Kibo (IRE) and book herself a dream passage into next week’s Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick – where she will carry a featherweight 50.0kgs.



Having her first try at a Black Type race, she enjoyed a nice run in transit for Tim Clark and burst through along the inside to score a half-length win.

The win was even more meritorious given the testing conditions under the Quality Handicap scale. Entering the race as a Benchmark 80 mare, Piggyback should have received significant weight relief against higher-rated opposition, including her own stablemate Juja Kibo (Benchmark 82) and rivals rated up to Benchmark 99. Instead, after the field compressed and weights were raised to meet the Racing NSW topweight requirement, Piggyback was forced to shoulder 55.5kgs – level weights with Juja Kibo (IRE) – and without her rightful 2.0kgs mares’ allowance. On handicapping mathematics alone, she was giving away lengths. Yet she defied the scale, the form guide, and the market, powering home to claim her sixth career victory from 17 starts.

Jumping smartly from the inside draw, Clark settled Piggyback in the box seat behind the leaders Sun ‘n’ Sand and Juja Kibo (IRE). The race unfolded at an even tempo, but as the field straightened, the favourite Juja Kibo (IRE) loomed to win. Clark was momentarily pocketed and forced back to the fence – considered inferior ground on the day – but Piggyback balanced, built momentum, and launched. Over the final 150 metres, she lengthened with determination, sweeping past the leaders to score by half a length in 2:28.98 (last 600m 35.83). Taramansour (IRE) ran on into third.

The Race:

We had a plan to be positive in a race that looked void of genuine speed but when that is how things appear on a map traditionally the tempo is a lot quicker and that’s how the race unfolded. 

Jumping away from barrier 1, we expected to lead or sit tucked in behind the leader whoever that may be. Then Stewards announced that Our Anchorage wanted to be forward with the view of leading. 

As the gates crashed back, Sun 'n' Sand speared across to take up the running whilst Juja Kibo came across to sit at its girth. Our Anchorage didn’t cross Piggyback so Tim pushed up to hold the fence in third spot behind the leaders as the field swung out of the home straight the first time. The field had sorted out their positions and nothing then changed for the next mile, as the leader peeled off balanced, even tempos of 12.90 keeping it a genuine but not demanding tempo. 



Swinging the home turn and balancing for the run home, the favourite eyeballed the leader and at the at the 350m Piggyback was in for the challenge as the leader was under pressure. Tim tried to get to the outside but was denied the run when JuJa Kibo pushed Piggyback back in behind the tried Sun ‘n’ Sand.



Tim had no choice but to change back towards the fence which was perceived as inferior ground, but Piggyback was now balanced and two lengths off the leader with 150m to run. 



Juja Kibo was being hailed the winner as he forged to the front halfway down the straight, but the persistent Piggyback was too strong for her stablemate to claim the major prize.



Tim asked Piggyback to extend and our mare lengthened and stayed on strongly.



Stride by stride she reeled in the leader who was all out and went past in a tremendous staying effort to post a widening 0.58 win as the camera flashed.





1st of 9 RHIL 27Sep25 2400m Good4 COLIN STEPHEN Group 3 $251,000 ($141,000) Tim Clark 55.5kg Barrier 1 Rtg 80 2nd Juja Kibo (IRE) 55.5kg, 3rd Taramansour (IRE) 55.5kg 2:28.98 (600m 35.83), 0.58L, 3rd@800m, 3rd@400m, $5/$5.50/$6





Piggyback ($6), ridden by Tim Clark, ran on strongly near the inside rail to reel in favourite Juja Kibo ($2.10) to score by a half-length with Taramansour ($8.50) three-quarters of a length away third.













PIGGYBACK is only the third Winner of this Feature Race to have broken though 2:29.0 glass ceiling since the year 2000.



The win was rich with historical context. Since the race conditions were amended in 2000, Piggyback’s time sits as the third fastest Colin Stephen renewal in the past 24 years, and she becomes just the fourth (4th) mare to lift the time-honoured trophy this century, joining Miss Admiration (2018), Amelie’s Star (2015), and Coco Cobanna (2000).

The Colin Stephen itself is one of the feature staying races on the Australian Turf calendar, tracing back to 1870, and with a roll call of legends including Carbine, Wakeful, Gloaming, Windbag, Phar Lap (twice), Flight, Gunsynd, Redcraze and Railings.

Trainer Ciaron Maher was full of admiration post-race:


“It was going to be one of ours – Juja had a very good run but Piggy just out-toughed him. Before the race I thought it was the best she had ever presented, and her times from last start were very strong. She’s a mare on the way up. With 50kg in The Metropolitan, it’s certainly very tempting.”

"We will see how she is, but she has had the preparation to back up."

"She has had a really good grounding and a gap between runs, so if we did want to back up it would work, I think."

Winning rider Tim Clark praised her tactical versatility and tenacity:

“She had the perfect run behind the speed, doing no work while Juja was left to do the donkey work outside the leader. She was full of confidence from her last win, and when I asked her, she responded like a horse that’s ready to take the next step, but the 50.0kgs is a bit light for me.” 

For the Dynamic Syndications team of owners, the victory was extra sweet. Piggyback was secured for just $27,000 by Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Online September Sale, having initially been sold through Widden Stud at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $32,000. She has now returned more than $459,000 prizemoney with six wins and four placings from 17 starts and importantly has earned this valuable Gr3 victory for the pedigree page.

Bred by the Vieira Group, Piggyback is the best of three winners from the Choisir mare Wowee, herself a Group 3 South Australian Fillies Classic winner at 2500m. She also becomes the sixth stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s Golden Rose hero Trapeze Artist, who is rapidly building his profile as a sire of stamina as well as speed.

The Colin Stephen win not only adds black type and historical prestige to Piggyback’s pedigree it guarantees her a ballot-free entry into next Saturday’s Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap. With just 50kgs to carry – compared with 55.5kgs at Rosehill – she is poised to emulate Railings (2005) as the last horse to complete the Colin Stephen–Metropolitan double.

Piggyback has beaten the handicapper and emerged as a genuine chance in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan. From being harshly treated by the handicapper at Rosehill, to now holding the ace card, Piggyback’s story is a true WOWEE moment for her owners and the Dynamic Syndications team. 

Piggyback, opened $201 for the Gr1 staying feature next Saturday, but after this win and gaining a start with a postage stamp on board, she is now a $12 chance with the TAB.

The search was on Saturday afternoon and evening for a lightweight jockey who can do justice to her 50kg and deliver another famous result, and Andrew Adkins has been booked to ride our mare at the 50.0kgs in The Metropolitan.



Congratulations to the Dynamic Co-Ownership Team that race PIGGYBACK: Dynamic Syndications Racing (Mgr D W Watt), Mr S D Murray, Mr S J Brereton, Mr P S Chiu, Mr M R Egan, Mr M R Alston, Mr L C Griffiths, Mr A L Giddings, Ya Beaten, Dr J Caspersz, Mr R Boekel, Mr S L Lamont, Pig Sty, Mr J Yianni, TS, Ohh Eight, Mr G R Glynn











This win by PIGGYBACK was Dynamic Syndications 966th Race Win overall and recorded our 15th Race Win for this new 2025-26 Racing Season. 


PIGGYBACK 5yo Chestnut Mare
by TRAPEZE ARTIST from WOWEE
Trainer: Mr Ciaron Maher (Warwick Farm)
Racing Colours: White, Dynamic Syndications Logo, Red Cap
Career Summary: 17-6:0:4    Prizemoney: $459,150
Min/Max-Dist-Win: 1200/2400     1st Up: 4:3-0-0    2nd Up: 3:0-0-2    
Track: 4:1-0-2    Dist: 2:1-0-0    Track/Dist: 1:1-0-0
Good: 8:3-0-1    Soft: 4:1-0-1     Heavy: 5:2-0-2    
Purchaser: Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock 
Price: $27,000