A Dual Group 1 Winner ! That's the reality the owners of Dynamic Syndications superstar ATOMIC FORCE (Danehill Dancer / Show Of Force (Luskin Star) - 6yo Bay Gelding) awoke to on Monday morning after their dreams turned into reality on Sunday afternoon at Ellerslie. After the celebrations had subsided late Sunday night and the surreal emotions of watching their horse explode in divesting fashion to crush its rivals dawned upon the team about what they had achieved, history books will always show that their pride and joy has now won 2 Group 1 Sprints and 2 x LR in 10 months and etched his name in history.
On a grey, rainy afternoon at Ellerslie Racetrack in Auckland, Australians proudly flew the Aussie flag. Our horse - "the people's horse" Atomic Force was heavily backed into even money favourite and despite a torrid run from a horrid draw, showed his class to beat a slick field of NZ's best sprinters on a track rated as a Slow 8 in NZ but was equal to our heavy tracks in Australia.
ATOMIC FORCE ridden by Nash Rawiller won the time honoured and prestigious $200,000 RAILWAY STAKES Group 1 over 1200 under Set Weights and Penalties conditions. He recorded on a rain affected track a slick 1:11.57 winning by 1/2 Len x 1 3/4 lens defeating The Hombre and Twilight Savings.
ATOMIC FORCE surges clear to win the Gr1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie 1-1-12.
Congratulations to our team of lucky owners who race this Dual Gr1 winner: Dynamic Syndications Atomic Syndicate (D Watt & J Godwin), M Henke, Mr S McCrea, Mrs S McCrea, M Pearce, A Keith, Mrs C Chiverton, ,S Mazzeo, P Bennett, New Horizons Synd.
HAPPY CONNECTIONS celebrate the iwonderful win of ATOMIC FORCE in the Gr1 Raiway Stakes Presentation
STEPHEN & SHARON McCREA love the Trophy won by their horse ATOMIC FORCE in the Gr1 RAILWAY STAKES
Nash Rawiller said in an interview "that was a phenomenal effort after the lack of luck we had early - he's an amazing horse".
All week, Atomic Force had been the sporting headline in Kiwi land. There was incredible interest in the Aussie wonder horse who had flown across the ditch to try and steal their premier sprint. There was doubt by some inexperienced journalists and racing commentators whether Atomic Force would be able to offset the many conundrums: weight of 58.0kgs, a horror draw, first look at the tricky Ellerslie circuit, a visiting jockey, could he get 1200m and did he have the class to beat the locals ?
However the experienced racing men and women in NZ racing circles thought he was a moral. They opened him up at $2.40 favourite on fixed odds and he was crunched in betting late to firm into $1.80 before easing in the last minutes to start $2.00 favourite.
It was a case of HAPPY NEW YEAR as ATOMIC FORCE in a powerful display gave them a head start after a torrid run to win going away. Such was the dominance of the victory ATOMIC FORCE not only achieved his win but in the 40th running of the Railway Stakes under metric weights, only 2 horses have carried more weight and won. Mr Tiz 58.5kgs (1991) and Shifnal Chief 59.0 kgs (1975).
ATOMIC FORCE (58.0kgs) became the 3rd Aussie to win this race joining the Gerald Ryan trained Recurring (56.0kg) 2005 and the Gary Portelli trained Gold Trail (57.0kg) 2010.
Leading NZ racing journalist Mike Dillion writing for Monday's NZ Herald summed it all up succinctly in one paragraph "this result was an exercise in magnificent jobs. Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller produced one to get Atomic Force home, when a bad ride would have seen the horse outside the top 10 home" also Darren Smith had turned the horse out in perfect order. Dillion continued, "both Watt and Rawiller acknowledged Shane Treweek's lengthy contribution to have him peak for his second Group 1 victory.
DARREN SMITH & SHANE TREWEEK with ATOMIC FORCE after his win the Gr1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie
Nash Rawiller's effort shone brightly against the overcast skies. ATOMIC FORCE was so relaxed he missed the jump coming out clearly last on a track that was favouring horses on the pace all day. Then as he went the first 50m, Durham Town gave him a couple of bumps and Atomic Force ended up wider and further back than the pre race plans had devised. It was our intent to go forward and either lead or trail the leader one or two lengths off the speed. So Nash was out of play early and as they went into the first bend, Nash had Atomic Force back towards the rear, trapped 5 deep without cover. 200m into the running we in all sorts of trouble. However that's why you put on the best riders. They think faster and smarter, experience or instinct whatever you call it but great horsemen don't panic and Nash showed the Kiwis how it was done. Nash sat quietly and guided Atomic Force around the bend four and five deep off mid field with no concerns. However at the 700m Durham Town's rider who had put us out of play early on, was trapped on our inside wanting to get out. Again Durham Town whacked into Atomic Force but this time Nash was in command. He out rode Vinny Colgan aboard Durham Town, leaving that horse in the pocket. Nash reported that despite the torrid run that would have looked a shocker from the grand stand, he had the horse full of running and was in no doubt we would win. Once they turned for home, Nash allowed Atomic Force to balance up under his own steam and then set sail after the leaders. Again Durham Town's rider hampered Atomic Force when he went for a squeeze run that was not there. This momentarily put Atomic Force off balance but Nash kept him going and he quickly recovered. With an explosive turn of foot that only a special few possess, Nash had picked up the leaders by the 200m. Despite the hard run Nash still had a lap full of horse and drove our boy to the line with a stride by stride increasing margin.
For our trainer Darren Smith, winning his second group one was a humbling experience.
As has been well documented in many stories in the past month, Hong Kong was our first preference however after controversially being a 11th hour omission, the Railway Stakes became our realigned target.
Importantly we acknowledge this win was assisted by proud Kiwi journalist Jack Petley. Jack was listening to an interview between Dean Watt and Andrew Bensley on Sky Sports Radio and Dean mentioned he was interested in going to NZ for the Railway if HK became an unacceptable issue. Within 1 minute of the interview concluding, Jack was on the phone ensuring we had our nominations in for the Railway and Telegraph. Jack assisted us in getting Atomic Force to NZ.
Excitingly for Atomic Force's owners the horse has pulled up fantastically well (I wish the same could be said about his touring party).
A decision on his immediate future will be made in the next few days with several options available.
We are considering the Magic Millions raceday on 14/1 with either the 1000m or 1400m race available. Alternatively we can stay in NZ for a crack at the Telegraph Stakes or we may go to the spelling paddock. The horse will tells by his body language over days next few days.
NASH RAWILLER salutes winning the Gr1 Railway Stakes aboard ATOMIC FORCE
ATOMIC FORCE took his racing career to
36 starts: 11 wins, 6 seconds, 6 thirds. Prizemoney of $850,600 (NZ$120,000, A$758,300).
Race Record: 11 wins-1 at 2- 1000 to 1200m, $850,600, to 2011-12,
1st AuRC Railway S., Gr1, ATC Galaxy H., Gr1, Maurice McCarten S., L, MRC Slickpix S., L,
2d BRC Victory S., Gr2,
3d AJC San Domenico S., Gr3, MVRC Ian McEwen S., Gr3, ATC Starlight S., L
4th ATC Sebring S., Gr3
On behalf of the all ATOMIC FORCE owners, in our Acceptance Speech we acknowledged the following:
AUCKLAND RACING CLUB Chairman Russell Warwick & Deputy Chairman Paul Kenny
Their Fellow directors of the ARC / Chief executive Chris Weaver &
Racing Director Andrew (Butch) Castles
For their assistance, kindness and support.
1) We thank the Sponsor: BLANDFORD LODGE
We acknowledge Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax and their partner Owen Glenn. Racing can't survive without sponsorship and they deserve our acknowledgement. (BLANDFORD PARK is a quality stud farm in NZ)
2) We thank NZ BLOODSTOCK air freight for their assistance in bringing ATOMIC FORCE over the ditch safe and sound.
3) We thank NASH RAWILLER for his outstanding ride. NASH is number 1 in Sydney and Australia because he's the best judge, deepest thinking and strongest rider we have and racing fans at Ellerslie witnessed a master craftsman at work. We thank Nash for joining us on this adventure and making our owners dreams come true.
4) We thank Trainer DARREN SMITH. WOW what can we say about Darren. A fantastic young trainer and integral part of the Dynamic Syndications Team who produces us winner after winner. Darren received ATOMIC FORCE after the horse had 3 previous city trainers. The horse had won only 2 races. Darren in 23 starts has had ATOMIC FORCE earn 23 prizemoney cheques and has won 9 races including now 2 Group 1 events and 2 Listed Races and earned our team $750,000. We can't thank DARREN SMITH and his dedicated staff enough (including Dave Dyson Racing Mgr and Shane Treweek Travelling Foreman) for the job he has done and for us with ATOMIC FORCE.
5) We acknowledge the outstanding work of Darren's foreman and track rider SHANE TREWEEK. Shane has been with the horse constantly and the Treweek family are household names in the NZ racing industry. We thank Shane and his family for a great job.
6) The reason we stood before the crowd receiving the accolades belongs to one of Kiwis best loved sons in racing JACK PETLEY. It was Jack who heard Dean in an interview back in November about ATOMIC FORCE going to HONG KONG and he rang me to make sure we nominated ATOMIC FORCE for NZ races. We may have missed the race nominations without Jack's diligence and support so, we thank Jack Petley a proud Kiwi and racing man for all his help.
7) I also acknowledge and thank the great team at Dynamic Syndications who work so hard every day to make our owners dreams come true. My wife FIONA, being the rock of our business on whom we all depend daily with our administration, my son Adam who is vital to the success of the business in selection, racing management, sales and marketing, Peter Wagstaff our client liaison officer who does all our communication work and my daughter Rachel who assists in our marketing.
8) Finally after all has been said and done, we thank our wonder horse ATOMIC FORCE for taking us on such a great ride. He has done the work for which we share the spoils. He is now a Dual Group 1 winner and has rightly created his place in racing history as the third Aussie to come over to NZ and be successful in this time honoured event.
ATOMIC FORCE parades post race in the Blandford Lodge Railway Stakes Gr1 winners Rug
We thank New Zealand for their warmth, friendliness and hospitality. After a night of celebrations winning connections still beaming late into the evening after winning the Gr1 Railway Stakes
HAPPY NEW YEAR