DYNAMIC Score Our Second Tuncurry-Forster XXXX GOLD CUP Win as LUGH Dominates!
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It’s incredibly rewarding for our Team at Dynamic Syndications when a well-made plan, made months in advance, pays off and our owners are successful on the racetrack and add to their bank balance.
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LUGH scores dominant win in 2025 TUNCURRY-FORSTER XXXX GOLD CUP
Such was the case on Friday 12 September, when in front of over 3,000 patrons and participants trackside, our promising galloper LUGH (Snitzel / Marcia Proba) WON his 5th Race from just 8 Starts and took his earnings to $214,400. He proved far too good for a handy field when claiming the $100,000 TUNCURRY-FORSTER XXXX Gold Cup which apart from the $48,000 first prize cheque, also carried BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY.
Our Team and the Ciaron Maher Stable are adamant that LUGH is a nice horse who will be at his best between 1600m and 2000m and felt that the Big Dance is a wonderful race to target. To gain entry we identified two races to compete. The first was the Goulburn Cup and the second was the Tuncurry-Forster Cup.
We had intended running in the Goulburn Cup (1400m), heading into that event after a strong win at Randwick over 1300m on 26 July. However at acceptance time were third emergency and despite being short in the market as the second favourite, we were not guaranteed we would secure a start.
We needed to run that weekend to keep on our programme to be arriving at our best on grand final day.
We had also accepted in a race at Randwick the day before, but that was only as a back-up plan because it was back in distance to 1200m when we were looking for further. We also knew we had the other target race of the Tuncurry-Forster Cup over 1600m on 12 September to use to qualify, but we needed another race start under our belt for fitness before that test at 1600m.
Therefore, we chose the safe option to run at Randwick over 1200m on the Heavy 10 surface to ensure foundation fitness was maintained. He went terrific in that event finishing just over a length from the winner in third place, despite the trip being too short and lacking that sprinters turn of foot.
The 2025 edition of the TUNCURRY-FORSTER XXXX GOLD CUP was to be run under new conditions. The race had previously been contested over 2100m.
LAMMA HILTON and Rachel King win the 2018 Tuncurry-Forster XXXX Gold Cup
Dynamic Syndications had previously won the race in 2018 with LAMMA HILTON.
This season, Racing NSW included the race as part of the BIG DANCE ELIGIBLITY programme, so bumped up the prizemoney to $100,000 and reduced the trip to 1600m. They also changed the rating of the race from an Open Country event to a Metropolitan BM82. This encouraged several Sydney stables to target the race and brought together a quality field with a Benchmark 90 top weight.
Originally a field of 13 acceptors, but 4 scratchings reduced the field to 9 heading to the barriers where LUGH had come into Barrier 8 after scratchings. LUGH had been kept very safe in betting and was a clear $2.70 favourite.
We had engaged leading rider Ash Morgan to pilot LUGH and our Ciaron Maher trained horse arrived at the sport looking a clear standout. He was fit, well and ready for the 1600m assignment, with the physique of an equine Adonis.
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LUGH looked amazing in the pre-race parade
On paper our speed map had us landing in the first couple, and we were happy to lead or sit off another galloper if they wanted to lead. We expected to be in the first three or four and the rest is up to Ash to ride where comfortable, in a rhythm to help him through the Heavy 8 rated surface.
Tactically, with the track rain affected, and with Ash knowing the track well, and how it plays when wet, before the race Ash advised us that he wanted to stay wide down the back straight on the untouched ground that wasn’t churned over in the previous 6 races on the programme. Then as they approached the top turn, to angle across and cut the corner to save ground.
As the gates crashed back, LUGH was clearly the first to break away from the machine and Ash allowed him to bowl along. Next out and being scrubbed-up was second favourite Formal Display who was racing against its own pattern, wanting to hold us out, off the fence.
Ash was too clever for that. He allowed that runner to work-up underneath him and work a half-length in front, so Ash could just sit at its girth and annoy it, whilst he had LUGH settle into a free striding, free flowing gallop. Approaching the first turn, Ash angled across to sit at its girth.
After the first 400m of the race, it was as good as over. There were 8 lengths covering first to last and off an even tempo up front, back markers were going to find it tough. The leaders passing the 1200m marker had a 2-length break over the third horse in transit Auzstar who would finish third. Then it had a length and a half over fourth and fifth racing together whilst the eventual runner-up Hooligan Tommy had settled last on the fence 8-lengths off the speed.
Passing the 800m there was no change in order, as the field thundered down the side the leader had tried to up the tempo here and work away from us but Ash kept him in his sights.
Passing the 600m there was still no change in the order, but Ash was starting to apply the pressure to the leader and moved up to eyeball it, whilst they were a clear two length margin ahead of the rest of the chasers.
As the field swung into the straight with 420m to run, Ash moved LUGH up to a working gallop position on the outside of Formal Display who was all out and starting to burst like a pricked balloon.
At the 350m Ash and LUGH were going strong and had swept to the lead but unfortunately it was a bit early, as Formal Display quickly dropped off. That would leave a lesser horse as a sitting duck for swoopers, but LUGH was having none of that, as our bold striding glamour started to work through his gears.
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Passing the 200m the race was over, and Ash just kept LUGH concentration up to the mark.
At the 100m LUGH was airborne, and Ash just gave him a reminder that the job wasn’t done yet, as our still inexperienced galloper started to stargaze and look at the crowd and the infield screen.
With nothing else a hope, Ash took an armchair ride to the post under a hold as the camera flashed LUGH had posted a time of 1:40.09 with a Last 600m in 35.47 on a Heavy 8 Track.
The closing sectional of 35.47 eased down, is the fastest last 600m on a Heavy Track ever recorded at the course.
Mathematically, Ash had ridden the perfect race and LUGH broke their hearts.
LUGH (57.5kgs) ($2.70) and Ash combined to win the Cup with an eased down 1.22 length margin over runner-up Hooligan Tommy (60.0kg) ($5.50) who got home well having saved ground along the fence early and had reserved its energy for the last furlong burst, whilst Auzstar (54.0kg) ($31) hung on bravely to keep third.
JOB DONE!
Back at Home Safe and Sound with the spoils of victory
“TUNCURRY-FORSTER XXXX GOLD CUP – WON IT – TWICE!”
L&B GLASS TFJC XXXX GOLD CUP ***BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY*** (1600m)
Of $100,000. 1st $48,000. Heavy 8. RATime: 1:40.09 Last 600m: 0:35.47
8 LUGH Ciaron Maher Ashley Morgan
Win Bar8 57.5 Bm75 $2.70 Snitzel / Marcia Proba
2 HOOLIGAN TOMMY John Sargent Mitch Stapleford
1.22 lens Bar4 60.5 Bm81 $5.50 Ocean Park / Contrada
11 AUZSTAR Marc Quinn Raymond Spokes
1.66 lens Bar6 54.0 Bm61 $31 Zoustar / Lucky Country
1st of 9 TUNC 12Sep25 1600m Heavy8 TUNC CUP MBM82 $100,000 ($48,000) Ashley Morgan 57.5kg, Barrier 8, BmRtg 75,
2nd Hooligan Tommy (NZ) 60.5kg, 3rd Auzstar 54kg 1:40.09 (600m 35.47), 1.22L, 2nd@800m, 2nd@400m, $2.45/$2.50/$2.60/$2.70
Racecaller Rod Fuller - the last 400m: “Up towards the home turn in the Tuncurry-Forster Gold Cup, the inside was Formal Display; Lugh won't go away, Auzstar 3-deep, Run Rory Run is 4-wide, Galano probing up along the inside clear, clear of Cenotes, Mornington Pier, Cosmic Vega saved for the last run at them.”
“Inside the 200m Lugh raced to the front; Auzstar to second, third Formal Display up along the inside from last Hooligan Tommy; but it's Lugh in front inside the 100m and Lugh is racing clear in the Cup; Auzstar and Hooligan Tommy battle the minors; but Lugh wins the Cup! Hooligan Tommy second, Auzstar third, from Cosmic Vega on the outside; behind those Run Rory Run, Formal Display knocked up, Mornington Pier, Galano and last of all Cenotes.”
Sky Channel presenter Melinda Turner comments: “Horse number 8 LUGH for the Ciaron Maher Stable. Ash Morgan in the saddle takes out this year’s edition of the Tuncurry-Forster XXXX Gold Cup. He had a beautiful run in transit, up outside the leader. He’s lengthened beautifully here today, and that gives him his fifth career win at start eight and, he's into the ‘BIG DANCE’. Hooligan Tommy was doing his best work late over the final stages. Auzstar has run out of his skin into third position, 4th will go the way of the top weight Cosmic Vega. Numbers are 8-2-11-1. No problem straight out to the mile today.
Sky Channel’s Belinda Smith joins in: “No, certainly not. He looked physically like it would really be suited out to the mile, and beautiful ride by Ash Morgan. Just positioned up outside the leader, he was able to build through his gears nicely and has pulled away in really good fashion. Let's catch up with our winning stable representative Liam Ruddy.”
Melinda says to Liam: “He was good today, were the stable expecting him to win like that?”
Liam Ruddy answered: “Yeah, we were hopeful. He looks a picture and he's been so improving the whole preparation, running well in town, so we're very hopeful that he could progress to a race like this, and it is nice to see him go on with it.”
Melinda then said: “He got a beautiful running transit!”
Liam responded: “Yeah, he got a beautiful run there. Ash helped him out of the gates there, and Ash was able to park outside the one of Annabel’s that helped us all. Lugh was very good late and there’s probably a very nice race from in November after qualifying, so yeah, good.”
Melinda then said: “The team were obviously happy to test him at 1800 metres early on in his career. Do you think you can see him get out in that type of trip later?”
Liam answered: “Every possibility he could do that, but I don't think he probably has to at this stage. He was very good over mile here today, and as I just said there's a very high prizemoney race for him in November over a mile, so I would say we will be keeping him at a mile for a little while. Thank you.”
Melinda Turner then summarised: “Lugh takes out this year’s edition of the Tuncurry-Forster Gold Cup. We are going to catch up with winning rider Ash Morgan making his way back into scale now. He does a lot of riding for the Ciaron Maher stable Ash Morgan, and I think this is his first ride on this guy. Tommy Berry has been on him his past two in town, Ash taking the ride here today and this would be Ash Morgan's first Tuncurry-Forster Gold Cup would it be?”
Belinda Smith agrees: “Yep it certainly is; and he has a lot of luck in these Dynamics Syndication colours also. So great to see him qualify this guy for the Big Dance. He was ridden beautifully, and he looked the winner a long way from home.”
Melinda acknowledged: “He did. He's a beautiful, big striding galloper. And you can see just up outside the leader. Ash was just able to improve when he was comfortable, and just let him use that beautiful action of his. He skips across the ground. He's been racing on very heavy tracks his past few, and he doesn't mind those wet tracks. But he's also very effective up on top of the ground as well. So, he's versatile.”
Belinda chimes in: “He certainly is, five wins from eight starts now, so not easy to do, but he looks progressive and I'm expecting that he would just continue to go through the grades. Okay, we are going to catch up with our winning rider Ash Morgan.”
Belinda Smith then interviews Ash: “I was just saying Ash, you have a lot of luck in those colours, and this guy looks progressive.”
Ash responded: “Yeah that's right. He's actually beautiful horse. I know this would have meant a lot to Adam. His grandfather is not too well, and they spent a lot of time in Tuncurry. So, he gave me a bit of a pep talk before the race to make sure we got done from him, so nice to take the trophy to him.
Belinda adds: “Beautiful racing manners. You just switched off in the mid stages.”
Ash agrees: “Yeah, he was great. He jumped very sharp as he always does and not an overly strong tempo. He was able to come back to me and just really rest for me. And I thought the leader would take us further than what it did. And that just left us a little vulnerable. He's still a bit of a big baby, but he looked terrific in the yard. And I think when he goes up in grade at this trip and probably beyond, he’s a lovely horse. Thank you.”
Melinda Turner concludes: “Winning rider there, Ash Morgan combines with Ciaron Maher to take out this year’s Tuncurry-Forster Gold Cup with LUGH.”
It has been mapped out that LUGH will have one more race start at 1600m to maintain match fitness before BIG DANCE Day rolls around on the first Tuesday in November.
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Dynamic Team members Scott & Nicole Hirtes celebrate the win by LUGH
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CONGRATULATIONS to our DYNAMIC OWNERSHIP Team that race LUGH: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr A Cranes, Mr S B Troughton, Mrs P Smith, Mr C Raymond, Mr E Jomaa, Miskalli, Mrs T E Parish, Mr A M Parish, C J R Racing, Mr S R Freeman, Mr S W Clinton-Morgan, Mr G Maris, Mr M G Howlin, Mr J D Lanyon, Downhill Racing, Beams
BIG DANCE:
The BIG DANCE is a race where the Winner and Runner-Up of declared qualifying races, gain eligibility to compete in a race at Royal Randwick on Tuesday 4th November worth $3 million ($1.56m to the Winner) over 1600m under Quality Handicap conditions.
There is also a consolation race named the LITTLE DANCE on the same day over the same trip and conditions, for horses that qualified but were balloted out of a start in the main event. The LITTLE DANCE is worth $750,000 with $460,000 to the winner.
Over 12 months there are 33 eligibility races available plus one Wild Card race. Eligibility to run in the BIG DANCE is restricted to winners and runner-ups of each qualifying race. That’s a maximum of 68 potential runners. The field limit for both the BIG DANCE and LITTLE DANCE is 20 runners.
Then elimination of runners is firstly by finishing position, where runner-ups are first eliminated. Then by lowest Benchmark Rating Winners - where the low Benchmarks winners are eliminated by ascending order until a field of 20 is reached.
There are currently seven (7) races remaining to gain eligibility:
19-Sep-25 Newcastle Jockey Club - Cameron Hcp 1500
26-Sep-25 Lismore Turf Club - Lismore Cup 2100
28-Sep-25 Dubbo Turf Club - Dubbo Gold Cup 1600
10-Oct-25 Port Macquarie Race Club - Port Macquarie Cup 2000
12-Oct-25 Coonamble Jockey Club - Coonamble Cup 1600
17-Oct-25 Manning Valley Race Club - Taree Cup 2000
18-Oct-25 Australian Turf Club - Big Dance Wild Card 1600
LUGH 5yo Chestnut Gelding D.O.B: 01-Nov-2020
by SNITZEL from MARCIA PROBA
Summary: 8 starts = 5:0:1:1 & Prizemoney incl. Bonus: $214,400
Min/Max-Dist-Win: 1200m (3), 1300m, 1500m, 1600m
1st Up: 3:2-0-0 2nd Up: 2:2-0-0 Track: 1:1-0-0 Dist: 1:1-0-0
Good: 3:3-0-0 Soft: 3:1-0-0 Heavy: 2:1-0-1
This win by LUGH recorded Dynamic Syndications 10th WIN for the new 2025-26 Racing Season whilst it was our 961st Race Win overall.
ONWARDS & UPWARDS!
FOREVER FORWARD!