Lightly-raced gelding bidding to preserve his unbeaten record in Saturday’s Group 1 contest – By Tim Rowe
By his own admission, the speed in which Yao Dash (Smart Missile) has emerged as a genuine Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) contender has taken Dynamic Syndications’ Adam Watt by surprise, but the reports from Nash Rawiller and the formlines surrounding the lightly-raced gelding have convinced connections to take their chance in Saturday’s $1 million race.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained three-year-old made the perfect start when scoring at Canterbury on August 21, defeating Petronius (Redoute’s Choice) by three and a half lengths, before upstaging exciting filly Funstar (Adelaide) at Randwick on September 7. Ridden by Rawiller on both occasions, Yao Dash is the least experienced of the eight three year-olds who were accepted for the Golden Rose yesterday. Adam Hyeronimus is set to take over from Rawiller, who partners rival Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) for Chris Waller in the race, but Watt expects Yao Dash to push forward and likely lead the Golden Rose field.
“Realistically, we like taking a patient style of approach with our horses but his form suggests he should be running in the race,” Watt told ANZ Bloodstock News. “The way he has been dominant at his two starts (means he warrants starting in the race) and I take heart from the fact that the two horses that he has beaten, both their trainers have come out and claimed that they are Group 1 winners in waiting. “Gary Moore won’t hear of Petronius not being a Group 1 winner of the future and neither will Chris Waller with Funstar. “Realistically, with the wonderful prize-money in Australia, we have a smorgasbord of options including a race like the Bondi Stakes, the Magic Millions Guineas and the Caulfield Guineas. “But it was on the advice of Nash that led us to commit to the Golden Rose. He rode him last start and told us that he thought Yao Dash was one of the best three-year-olds in the country and could be one of the best horses he has ridden to date”.
Run To The Rose (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) was installed as the $3 favourite with bookmakers after the field was released yesterday, with Exceedance (Exceed And Excel) second elect at $4.20. Yes Yes Yes ($4.80) and Yao Dash ($8) were next in the market. Dynamic Syndications paid $90,000 for the son of Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Newhaven Park, at a time when Yao Dash’s sire was in the wilderness after starting his stud career at Arrowfield Stud.
Watt is an unabashed fan of the now Twin Hills Stud-based stallion, who has sired 13 stakes winners so far including last season’s Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Maid Of Heaven – his first at the highest level. “We have got Ready To Prophet who is a multiple stakes winner and they are just good, tough racehorses,” Watt said. “From a syndicator’s point of view, that is what you try to buy. You want nice horses who can make the big races and ones that you can race on season after season. “I think the stallion is doing a marvellous job and well played to Olly Tait to be able to secure him just before he reached the peak of powers. “I have no hesitation in buying a Smart Missile – I love the breed.”
In 2004, Dynamic Syndications had subsequent Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Savabeel (Zabeel) run fifth in the Golden Rose before it was upgraded to a Listed race a year later. Watt hopes to add the three-year-old feature to Dynamic Syndications’ list of big-race victories on Saturday with the young gelding. “We have been very fortunate in winning a lot of Group 1 races over the years and I can sit here (in the office) and look at a Cox Plate and a Golden Slipper,” he said. “But in the Golden Rose, we have had horses like Savabeel and what not run around in it but we haven’t been able to collect it. “We would like to have the opportunity to put it on the mantelpiece if our horse can do it on Saturday.”
Story courtesy of ANZ Bloodstock News – Thursday, 26th September 2019
