900th DYNAMIC Race Win as I AM ME Aims at EVEREST after taking THE SHORTS

23 Sep 24

Before a review of our Dynamic Syndications sprinting sensation, I AM ME and her latest Black-Type success in the $1m Gr2 THE SHORTS at Randwick on Saturday, clocking up Dynamic Syndications 900th Race Win, it’s timely to look at a list of facts for our mare who is on a mission to secure a slot she has earned into THE EVEREST.

I AM ME wins $1m THE SHORTS Gr2 1100m 21 September

* I AM ME won THE SHORTS recording the 3rd Fastest Time in the race’s history.

* I AM ME won in a time of 1:02.40. Only Redzel in 2017 in 1:01.83 on a Good 3 and Classique Legend in 2020 in 1:02.23 on a Good 4 have run faster and BOTH horses won THE EVEREST that same year.

* I AM ME has run the Second Fastest 1200m at Randwick only behind Yes Yes Yes who won The Everest in Track Record Time 1:07.32

* Both JMac & Nash have stated in press, they believe she can be fighting out the finish in The Everest

* We have Nash Rawiller booked for the ride

* Faultless Lead-up races = 2 for 2 wins earning $1,163,000

* Sydney Sprint Series Leader with 10 points

* Undefeated at Randwick at 1200m

* 4-time Winner at 1200m; Undefeated at Randwick from 1000m to 1200m.

* 4-time Gr1 performer at 1200m (twice 2nd; twice 4th)

* 1200m Course Record Holder at Canterbury in the Canterbury Sprint LR 1200m.

* 1200m Ran the Second Fastest Randwick in 1:07.77

* Group 1 runner-up at 1400m in the Rupert Clark

* 23 Starts: 11 wins 5 placings and $3,689,850

* Have defeated Bella Nipotina 3 out of 3 - She is $7.00 second favourite and has a slot

* Natural gate speed - leader / first four in a race building with no designated speed

* Puts herself in winning positions early / she peaks third-up.

* Third-up Second Fastest 1200m at Randwick 1:07.77; Won the Sydney Stakes; 4th Gr1 Goodwood

* Pro punters ratings ran career peaks this preparation 103.2 previous peak. :103.5 and 102.5

* Second-up 100.5 Sangster 95.3 Sheraco Worse for prep 95.7 Bm88 Rosehill Worse for prep

* I AM ME recorded Dynamic Syndications 900th Race Win in our 20th Season in operation.

How the Other EVEREST WINNERS have progressed to the race:

14 Oct 2023    THINK ABOUT IT (AUS) 5G Premiere 1200m (1st)

15 Oct 2022    GIGA KICK (AUS) 3G Vain 1100m (1st); Danehill 1100m (1st)

16 Oct 2021    NATURE STRIP (AUS) 7G Concorde 1000m (1st); Shorts 1100m (2nd)

17 Oct 2020    CLASSIQUE LEGEND (AUS) 5G Shorts (1st); Premiere 1200m (2nd)

19 Oct 2019    YES YES YES (AUS) 3C Run To The Rose 1100m (2nd); Golden Rose 1200m (2nd)

13 Oct 2018    REDZEL (AUS) 6G Concorde 1000m (1st); Premiere 1200m (5th)

14 Oct 2017    REDZEL (AUS) 5G Concorde 1000m (1st); Shorts 1100m (1st)

* Note REDZEL 2017 and NATURE STRIP 2021 have both come through the same lead-in races to win the EVEREST

* Note REDZEL 2017 and CLASSIQUE LEGEND 2020 are the only two winners of the SHORTS to have run faster than I AM ME and both won the EVEREST

BELOW: Courtesy of the Australian Turf Club, a video clip of the excitement of I AM ME Winning THE SHORTS

I AM ME Wins Gr2 THE SHORTS

I Am Me ($2.60) has made it back-to-back wins to kick-off her spring campaign, securing victory in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon.

You can't catch me - I AM ME withstands the pressure to win the Gr2 THE SHORTS

Rinse and Repeat; Cut and Paste; Carbon Copy; Déjà vu; whatever saying suits you, the result was delivered for a wonderful team of Dynamic Syndications owners when our mighty mare I AM ME sizzled around the Randwick 1100m to claim a well-deserved victory in the $1m Group 2 THE SHORTS, just had she had done a fortnight earlier in the $1m Gr3 Concorde Stakes.

I Am Me was impressive holding off Bella Nipotina first-up and started a well backed $2.60 chance for the 1100-metre The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday. Our tough mare I Am Me followed her Concorde Stakes win with a replica performance to take out the Group 2 The Shorts and press her obvious well-credentialed Everest claims.

I Am Me continues to enhance her growing reputation as our cult-like mare’s supporters and followers accept her as a giant slayer.

However, it was another nerve-wracking finish for connections, as the Dynamic Syndications owned mare once again hit the front early and had to repel the challengers.

I AM ME = Too Big, Too Strong!

The Shorts was a vital dress rehearsal for the $20m The Everest, and our Ciaron Maher trained I Am Me showed tremendous speed and toughness to win.

With just three The Everest slots filled so far and with being a month out from the race, contenders needed to make their presence felt on Saturday in one of the final lead-up races to the feature.

I Am Me withstood a late challenge from Stefi Magnetica, but star jockey James McDonald never felt in danger as our mare maintained her unbeaten start to the spring.

Using her favourable barrier two draw to have I Am Me travelling comfortably on the fence in third and fourth spot, when Way To The Stars got running as per usual, setting up a genuine fast clip.

There was no change to positions as the field rounded the home turn and then at the 350m JMac, pushed the go-button and our mare responded perfectly, from third position on the fence.

Winning hands and heels

JMac steered to the outside of Way To The Stars and worked up between that runner and Mazu on her outside before hitting the front with 150m to run.

Producing a sustained effort to out-tough Stefi Magnetica ($9) while Mazu ($13) hung on for a tiring third.

It was a carbon copy of when Nash Rawiller’s ride for I Am Me’s victory last start in the Concorde Stakes.

I AM ME beats Bella Nipotina in the $1m Concorde Stakes Gr3 1000m win 7 September

Our mare got the perfect run in transit, similar to her first-up success in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) a fortnight ago, sitting one back on the inside running rail before exploding in the final furlong.

It was another tight finish, with the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) winner Stefi Magnetica ($9.50) looming large in the shadows of the post under Zac Lloyd, as James McDonald pushed out I Am Me to win by a head on the line.

Our six-year-old mare surely must be considered a leading contender for $20 million Everest (1200m) with 9 slots still available, and the Ciaron Maher/ Dynamic Syndications team declared that’s still the goal this preparation.

James McDonald was impressed with the victory and suggested The Everest was within the realm of possibilities.

I Am Me is now an $15.00 chance with bookmakers for The Everest set to be run on October 19.

I AM ME returns to the Winner's Circle to greet her happy connections

You're Number 1 - Aussie Joh tells James McDonald

It was never in doubt according to James McDonald in his debrief

Winning connections

Yarraman Park's Arthur Mitchell presents Adam Watt with THE SHORTS Trophy

Winners are Grinners !

Dynamic Duo Johann Gerard-Dubord and James McDonald share a laugh with Daily Telegraph's Ray Thomas

CONGRATULATIONS to the Dynamic Team of Owners that race I AM ME:
Dynamic Syndications Racing, Sheikh M B K Al Maktoum, Mrs J M Crooks, B Ramsey Family, Mr P J Woollett, Mr G Rassos, Mr R J Gall, Mr R G Dawkins, Mr A W Robertson, Mr A Cranes, Mr A Mitchell, Mrs M Joyce, Mr M G Joyce, Mr S B Troughton, Mr D P Lacey, Mr MJ Millner, Mr S Finnigan, Mr A D Vella

This was Dynamic Syndications 10th Race Win for the new season and our 900th Race Win overall.

SKY CHANNEL – Thoroughbred Central:

Pre-race parade commentary:

I AM ME on the way to the barriers

Greg Radley: “I AM ME the heavily backed favourite. The winner of the Concorde trying to back it up with a win here in The Shorts. James MacDonald jumps on today for Ciaron Maher.”

Ron Dufficy: “Yeah, terrific mare, she landed big bets wining The Concorde, getting favours I must say, with the track in her favour and inside draw, but she might get those again today with an inside draw for McDonald. 1100m form is just as good as 1000 metre form and although thinking she's short enough, which is obvious with MacDonald riding last few winners, she's all the rage here, which I think is probably a touch under the odds.

Corey Brown: “She still looks every bit as good as what she did first-up. If anything, she's probably improved, you could not knock her. She's big, she's strong. You couldn't fault her.”

Immediate Post Race commentary as the horses pull-up and return to scale:

You still can't get past me - despite the race being owner I AM ME refuses to yield to the runner-up

Greg Radley: She's gone back-to-back; in the Concorde and now the Shorts. So now the conversation must start to get serious. Are they wanting to slot in the Everest? Maybe more importantly, who wants her? And a very similar set up Ronnie to the way she won the Concorde.”

Ron Dufficy: “Yeah. Very similar wasn’t it. The on-pacers stuck it out well again. She was first onto the scene there as well, and the swoopers didn't come into play. Obviously horses up on the inside are making ground later in the day here as well, but you have to give it to her. A Thousand 1000m, 1100m, similar. She’s flying, Form around all the right horses and she's probably earned her (Everest) spot. Some may say is she as good at 1200m? but she’s going to put herself into a winning position in any race she contests and she’s in a rare frame of mind. So, let’s see what the slot holders do with this race.”

Corey Brown: “An absolutely outstanding ride by JMac, he obviously drew well, soft in behind the leaders, peeled out from behind, he knows when to push the button. What I like about this win today was how tough she was. She was there to be beaten, and she still battled on really well.

Sky Channel Trainer and Jockey interviews:

I AM ME - let’s hear from Johann Gerard-Dubord he represents Ciaron Maher here in Sydney.

Greg Radley started by saying: “We are here again, and it was almost a carbon copy of what she did in the Concorde. Same run, same result.”

Aussie Joh (Johann Gerard-Dubord) answered: “Yeah, and that's what James said before the race.

“Just copy and paste and that's exactly what he did. To do it first-up is obviously one thing, but to repeat it two weeks later like that is a good effort. Especially after a hard run like that (first-up). Two weeks back-up there is always a bit of a question mark, but yeah, she's come back better. She loves racing. She’s tough, so it was great.

“Dynamic, I think that was there 900th Winner, so yeah, she is the right horse to do it.

“Great effort from the team, like I said last time, she’s at Bong Bong, she loves it there, she is just improving, we know she’ll stay further, and a bit of time between runs would be ideal.”

Greg Radley then asked: “What do you think of The Everest? Will that come after the Premiere in any case? Will it be Premiere in two weeks and then The Everest, if it happens?”

Aussie Joh said: “We’ll just see how she comes through that first. To do it every second week is not easy. There is a four-week gap to the Everest which could be ideal. Yeah, just have to see how she comes through it first, she will tell us, she’s done a perfect job so far.”

Greg Radley then asked: “Will she be strong at 1200m again?”

Aussie Joh answered: “I have no doubt. She has raced well over 1400m, she’s relaxing better now, if anything, 1200m will suit even better.”

Next, Corey Brown interviewed James McDonald and started by saying: “Congratulations JMac. Tough again today this thing.”

James responded: “She’s quality isn’t she! She just wears her heart on her sleeve.

“She always felt in control of the race and even from a furlong from home, I felt like I was always going to win even though they were so close, she was just doing enough, enough, enough, so she's got that up her sleeve and look, she's won the first two lead-ups to the great race, so she's ticking a lot of boxes.

Corey Brown then asked: “What do you think about the 1200m?”

James answered positively: “Yeah, that should be fine because now she's adaptable. I won on her over six furlongs and she won by the same sort of margin. So, she does what she has to do and she's a big brute of a mare who will run a tremendous race in it, a race like that.”

900 !!! Dean & Adam Watt celebrate a major milestone as I AM ME brings up our 900th Race Win

Debrief - JMac and Aussie Joh discuss what happened after the dust settled!

Channel 7 Coverage:

Jason Richardson: I AM ME wins the Group 2 The Shorts defeats Steffi Magnetic. So many good runs in and around, but Katie (Kate Mallyon – JMac’s partner) your man JMac gave that one an absolute treat; but she is just so honest.”

Kate Mallyon: “Yeah, well he drew barrier 2 so he was always going to fall into that spot, so we can't give him too much credit there Richo! But she's absolutely on fire and she is a top-quality mare. She put herself on speed, but she can ride that hot speed and take a sit if she needs too, she was just was really strong late.”

Lizzie Jelfs added: “I echo exactly what Katie just said. I AM ME makes her own luck, and that gives her the best possible chance of winning these types of races. A good performance there I AM ME - she’s now two for two this preparation, she’s got to be getting an Everest Slot now after those two eye catching runs.”

Jason Richardson said: "Emily Reardon is about to interview Ciaron Maher so we will hear his thoughts. Here’s Ciaron.”

Emily Reardon said: “I AM ME just won The Shorts in Sydney, what did you make of the run?”

Ciaron Maher answered: “Beautiful ride by JMac. She looked to be in the driver's seat. Pretty similar to last start, really. Fantastic, she is just a great mare for Dynamic. Dynamic are a massive part of our stable in Sydney and to win two of the big sprints in the series, phenomenal.

“The team have done a great job. Joe and everyone else up there. Nash probably would have been on it, but he couldn’t quite make the weight, but yeah, a fantastic result.”

Emily Reardon then asked: “Have the negotiations started knowing that you are searching for a few Everest slots?

Ciaron replied: “Yeah, definitely. I have been talking to couple of people yesterday (Friday) about that. So now she's put 2 together. Yes, you know, she's proven it again, so hopefully she can fill the slot now.”

Emma Freedman for Channel 7 interviewed James MacDonald after he hopped off the scales and started by saying:

Emma said to James: “Have a drink, you deserve it, you have been wasting hard to ride the fifty-five (55.0kgs) but you complete a beautiful Saturday treble.

Emma then asserted: “She’s a Fast; Fast mare.”

James responded: “Yeah she’s a brute too. She always felt like she was in control of that race.

“Even though she the margin doesn't suggest that, she just felt like she was just doing enough from a furlong from home, and the margin never really changed. She's a very smart sprinting mare. She's so adaptable now and she's got a great turn of foot. So, she's; she's great.”

Emma then asked: “Heading into an Everest, you have ridden a few of these contenders. Going forward, I'm not going to ask you to pick now, that'd be silly. I know you wouldn’t answer my question, but she should be competitive in an Everest?”

James answered with praise: “Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah, she's just a very (high) quality mare. Even if she can’t win the Everest, she would be very close, she will be fighting out the finish for sure, that's one guarantee because she's one of the better sprinters around and she's won the first two lead-up races to an Everest, so what more can she do?”

Richo signed off: “That was huge! She’s a beauty!”

SKY CHANNEL - I AM ME Sunday Morning post-meeting summary:

Greg Radley: I AM ME - This is what she did in the CONCORDE, the same in THE SHORTS:

Ron Dufficy: “Very similar wasn’t it. It was the same sort of setup as well; she had the same good draw. Found the same position and finished them off. She was great, very hard to knock her, the next step, there’s options galore for her. We will leave it connections to see which way they go as far as, if they are happy to get a slot with her, or everybody seems to be going for the Sydney Stakes on the same day, the field that's going to attract, might be as good as the Everest.

Corey Brown added: “Even in the enclosure there yesterday Ronnie, you would've seen it, it actually felt like the Everest race. So, I know it’s a lead-up, there was that many owners in the enclosure.”

Ron Dufficy said: “I know that we're not going to get the three or four slots that we got out of this race last year. I think there's one or maybe two there.”

Greg Radley chimed in saying: “You know what? There were six horses, that ran in the Shorts, went onto the Everest last year, that won't happen with this one.

“Obviously, we have got the Manikato to get through, the Golden Rose which will be the D-Day for the 3yo’s, and on the same day as the Golden Rose we have the Heritage Stakes, over 1100m, that’s where Bustling is going, and then there is the Premiere in two weeks. It now becomes the most important race because we might get to two weeks out from The Everest and still might have to fill half the field.”