Class Record metropolitan wins are always extremely satisfying, however even more so when your horse turns for home a clear last, spotting the leaders more than six lengths, and wins in a canter by 3.3 lengths under no pressure and lowers the class record by 0.08 sec.
Saturday’s Brisbane Races were held on the Sunshine Coast track where HARD TO SAY (3yo g. EXCEED AND EXCEL x MALASUN) won Race 5, the Coastline BMW 2 Series Coupe / QTIS Bm 72 Handicap.
Owned by a fantastic crew of All Ladies Ownership, our JASON DEAMER trained 3yo gelding looked fabulous in the parade ring and raced the same.
He dismissed his run of luckless recent races to demolish his peers over 1000m, on a Good 4 surface, when ridden by Ash Morgan, they stopped the clock in a sizzling 57.02 secs with the field coming home in 33.64.
HARD TO SAY actually ran his final 600m in a sensational 32.84 secs. HARD TO SAY was the only horse at the meeting to break 33.00 secs for the final 600m.
He also ran his last 400m in a brutal 22.02 secs, that too was the fastest final 400m of the day.
His career now reads 10 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third & $150,475.
The enigmatic HARD TO SAY has always best been described as a “work in progress” throwing away several race winning opportunities as a result of his own stubborn ways.
However, we have learned a few of his tricks and have countered them. Importantly, he had been a horse that early on had wanted to over race and go forward, but a recent change in strategy has paid dividends. We learnt the hard way, that by holding him back, he has an unbelievable turn of foot if he can balance up and unleash. So big roomy tracks with longer straights are a distinct advantage.
That’s the tactic we took into this event on the Sunshine Coast and the result was a class record win.
In this Benchmark 72 event, they ran faster than the Open Company race over the same trip the following race, which was a competitive fight up the length of the straight.
Yet at the 400m, HARD TO SAY needed BINOCULARS to see the leaders.
Sent to the barriers with an outside draw, Ash was given instruction to come out neutral, and drift back, conserving energy in a race that looked to have a fast early tempo on paper.
We didn’t mind being trapped 3 wide, so long as we were not being held up.
As the gates crashed back the early part of the race turned out as we had hoped, with Ash taking HARD TO SAY back to the tail of the field, but those immediately in front of him were not travelling fast enough, so Ash angled 3 deep to keep his momentum in a balanced rhythm.
Approaching the home turn, Ash was patiently waiting to push the go button. He waited until they balanced for the run home, and as they passed the 375m, Ash allowed HARD TO SAY some rein, and our horse started to lengthen stride.
From the 350m to the 200m our horse quickly reeled in the leaders and then swept to the front with 150m to go. Stride by stride, the gap widened.
There was no need for Ash to ask HARD TO SAY for an extra effort as our horse was doing it voluntarily.
As the camera flashed the margin was a widening 3.3 lengths and a fat prizemoney cheque of $67,200 was earned for our all ladies ownership team.
CONGRATULATIONS Girls on your horse’s awesome victory: Dynamic Ladies Synd (Mrs F K Watt, Miss R A Watt, Mrs K E Watt), Mrs C Freeman, Mrs A T Woollett, Mrs B A Reid, Mrs K Corby, Mrs H Corby.
This was our second metropolitan win on Saturday, following on from our DYNAMIC win in Sydney with AFRICAN DAISY.
Hard To Say - Wins 28.1.23 from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
This win by HARD TO SAY was our 15th Metro Win of the current season, and our 37th win for the 22/23 season to date. It was our 5th win for the month of January (4 metro + 1 country cup) and became our 807th win overall.