CIARON MAHER Racing have done a superb job with our lightly raced 3yo Filly PIGGYBACK (Trapeze Artist x Wowee) and the fabulous filly is a highly promising staying prospect.
She was resuming from a spell at Orange on Friday in a Showcase Class 1 over 1410m, facing the starter for just the second time. On a Soft 5 she ran 1:23.61 picking up $15,000 first prize plus $5,625 BOBS Bonus.
She had won on debut at Gosford last prep on the 8th December, and was then put away for a possible Brisbane Winter campaign at distances beyond 2000m.
She is a daughter of the excellent staying stakes winning mare WOWEE who won 3 races in 10 starts from 1600m to 2500m including the Gr3 South Australia Fillies Classic at 2500m.
Our filly has the true physique of a stayer and genetically the bloodlines of a filly that wants that trip.
We had her nominated in various events but chose a Class 1 at Orange as her resumption race based upon the wonderful layout of the Orange racetrack including its long home straight.
We believe that PIGGYBACK is a nice filly, capable of rattling off wonderful closing sectionals, so it was important to find a big track layout that would complement this. Plus, Orange was also a Showcase Meeting so there was extra prizemoney on offer. Also being on the Friday it gave us a few extra days between her first-up assignment and stepping up further in trip for her second-up race without rushing the filly as we build a stayers foundation platform.
Importantly, we also wanted to give her as soft a time as possible resuming, as we build this foundation into the Winter Carnival. The 1410m for a stayer was ideal to kick off trip, plus the fact we were searching for was some extra prizemoney and more BOBS Bonus monies. The win would bounce us upwards in the Benchmark ratings, to allow her an opportunity to force her way into potentially better races as they approach. We have ticked these boxes with this second win from two race starts.
Turned out a treat (as per normal) by the CIARON MAHER Racing Stables at Warwick Farm led by Johann Gerard-Duboard (Aussie Joh) and Gab Nut and the team for Ciaron Maher, PIGGYBACK was favourite in the field of 12 throughout betting however drifted late from $2.40 to $2.80 2nd favorite under an avalanche of money on the eventual runner-up Eilrahc who firmed in the market 26% coming in from $5.50 to start $2.60 favourite.
Its supporters would have been cheering all the way up the straight until the last 25m when PIGGYBACK flew past him with such a speed - she gave him a cold, and our jockey was able to sit-up and pose for the photo.
PIGGYBACK Won Race 4 the SPANLINE ORANGE & BATHURST Class 1 SHOWCASE Hcp (1410m)
The field broke away cleanly as the gates clanged back, but PIGGYBACK as expected of a staying prospect, was beaten for early dash and after the first furlong drifted back to 3rd last but was only three-lengths off the leaders in a compact field.
Allowed time to settle into a rhythm, Ash Morgan saw it all unfold in front of him, as the field put on a spurt from the 1200m to 1100m and that placed PIGGYBACK 6-lengths off the speed, one off the fence with cover.
Passing the 900m into the top turn, runner-up Eilrahc was on the fence two lengths in front of our horse, saving ground.
Nothing changed until the 620m from home when Ash asked PIGGYBACK to improve and eased off the heels of a no-hopper in front taking us nowhere. That put us in the three-wide spot and having clear room to improve as the field started to pack-up on the point of the turn.
As the field thundered around the bend, Ash steered 4-deep on PIGGYBACK and had a clear run.
Whilst we were doing this, Eilrahc saved ground sticking to the fence picking up a 3 lengths advantage.
As they balanced at the 300m and things were on in earnest, PIGGYBACK was a minimum 5 lengths off the leader. The runner-up had steered off the heels of the leader and was full bore and with a 3.5kgs (2.2 lengths) pull in the weights and race fitness and strength as an older male, the race should have been done and dusted.
However, nobody told PIGGYBACK that and it wasn’t until the 150m and still as green as grass, did PIGGYBACK work out that she could let-down.
Three lengths away at the 100m, PIGGYBACK (3yo filly 55.5kgs) flew, and in such a demolition job, was able to ease down and pose for the camera as it flashed, posting a widening 0.51 length margin over Eilrahc (5yo gelding 54.0kgs)($2.60 fav) who had no excuses, and Mrs Bull (4yo mare 55.0kgs) ($26) 2.37 lengths third.
Ash Morgan reported to stable travelling foreman Liam that
“It was a good win by her because we had a lovely spot and we put them under pressure a long way from home. We got a nice run through, but I really had to get down into her to make her lengthen, and it was really only at the last 100m that she picked-up well did and really let down and past the post I couldn’t pull her up; she was flying. She’s a nice horse and especially when she gets out to 2000m, and I think she’s got a really good future. She’s done well to put two together over these really short trips.”
CONGRATULATIONS to the DYNAMIC Ownership Team that race PIGGYBACK: Dynamic Syndications Racing, 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, Mr J Caspersz, Mr R Boekel, Mr S L Lamont, Pig Sty, Mr J Yianni, TS, Ohh Eight, Mr G R Glynn.
Piggyback - Winner 19.4.24 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
A $27,500 purchase through the ring from the Magic Millions, PIGGYBACK now has a career record of: Summary: 2 Starts = 2 Wins: 0: 0 and Prizemoney incl. BOBS Bonuses: $40,200
PIGGYBACK recorded Dynamic Syndications 48th Race Win for this current racing season and it was our 876th Race Win Overall.
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS !