Dynamic AXIUS Justifies Connections Faith Winning $1 million MM Snippets
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A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase from Coolmore, talented Justify (USA) gelding AXIUS delivered on his potential at the Gold Coast on Saturday delighting his owners.
Axius announced himself as a sprinter on the rise with a brilliant win for Dynamic Syndications, Ciaron Maher and Tim Clark in the $1 million Howden Magic Millions Snippets (1200m).
He’s been a work in progress since making his debut in the final month of his two-year-old season and scored the biggest win of his career to date, courtesy of a textbook ride from Tim Clark.
Axius began well from barrier two but was beaten for early speed as he settled midfield, three pairs back on the fence and looked to be tracking the speed nicely until the horse he was tracking dropped anchor causing Tim to check Axius to ensure he didn’t gallop on the heels of the horse in front of him.
From the 700m to the 600m Axius raced in restricted room getting his head up as our big striding galloper was tightened for room. From the 600m to the top of the straight rounding the home turn,the tight track saw our horse start to lay out as he became unbalanced. Strung up and needing clear running from the 400m, Tim Clark needed to find clear running.
He was hampered momentarily before pushing through a gap to find clear running at the 250m.
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Axius let down beautifully into full stride and was eyeballing the leader with 100m to go.
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Such was his closing speed he surged past his rivals over the final 100m
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winning convincingly by a widening 0.7 lengths on runner-up Payline, with another length-and-a-half to his stablemate Scampi in third.
The feature race win was a significant moment for Dynamic Syndications and trainer Ciaron Maher, capping off a successful Magic Millions Carnival.
Post race Maher said the decision to back-up Axius after his placing in the Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO had been vindicated.
“The back-up has been working pretty well today,” Maher said.
“Dynamic has a host of horses with us, they are a good crew, so it’s fantastic to win a big one for them; Adam and Dean Watt.”
“He’s a bit of a brute to ride, he takes a bit of handling, so they (stable team) have done a great job.”
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Axius was bought by Dynamic Syndications, in conjunction with Dean Watt Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher Racing.
Dynamic Syndications were involved in at least nine purchases during Book 1 of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, ranging between $100,000 and $250,000 signing for a $1,470,000 tally.
Dynamic’s Adam Watt said it was a satisfying win for a large group of loyal connections.
“The heart is pumping, it’s a massive thrill,” Watt said.
“We thought he was going to win last week but things just didn’t pan out but to back him up, drop him from 1300m back to 1200m and win a big sprint like this, it’s a huge credit to Ciaron."
“What a ride by Tim Clark, it was amazing.”
“It’s a hard game, we all know how hard it is, but we work big hours over there at the sales to find these horses, so to be here on the big days and win a $1 million race makes it all worthwhile.”
Clark, who took his tally of winners on the premier Magic Millions Raceday to nine, said Axius can continue to rise through the sprinting ranks.
“They’ve taken their time with him and been really patient so now they’re reaping the rewards,” Clark said.
“He showed plenty of promise, but it’s taken a bit of time for him to get there.
“He smoked up in behind them and just needed the room.”
Foaled and raised at Coolmore, Axius is the first winner from Orontes, an unraced three-quarter sister by Redoute’s Choice to Group 1 winning sprinter Takedown.
His record now stands at five wins from nine starts, with more than $835,000 in prizemoney.
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher
"I was hoping he got into the Cup to run him over further but that's how it works out sometimes.
"He came up from Sydney in super order. He ran really well and he was a horse that was really hot and bothered before the races last week but having another run he was able to do it better today.
"He just had another week to chill out.
"Fantastic for Dynamic Syndications. They do a great job. They were active at the sale and I'm sure they've got a few to sell.
"When you peak horses, the back-up usually works provided you have the right grounding to do that. When there's this sort of cash on offer, you want them to peak."
Winning Jockey: Tim Clark
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"Probably wasn't ideally suited at the weights and conditions so it probably adds more merit to his win.
"Travelled well throughout and I had the horse to make my runs and go where I wanted to go. He was taking the runs as well as any putting himself in the picture.
"He really toughed it out to the line. It was a good win.
"He probably didn't get as warm the other day, but he tracked through well and is only lightly raced with plenty more in store."
STEWARDS REPORT: AXIUS – Over-raced in the middle stages. Approaching the 700m, had to be steadied after improving onto the heels of FAR TOO EASY when the pace of the race slackened. Laid out rounding the turn from the 600m. Continued to over-race for a short distance thereafter.
HOWDEN MAGIC MILLIONS SNIPPETS (1200m) Of $1,000,000. 1st $582,500
1st of 11 GCST 17Jan26 1200m Good4 MM SPRINT $1,000,000 ($582,200)
Tim Clark 56kg, Barrier 2, Rtg 83.5, 2nd Payline 56kg, 3rd Scampi 56kg 1:08.54
(600m 34.60), 0.65L, 7th@800m, 7th@400m, $31/$31
CONGRATULATIONS to our Dynamic Ownership Team that race AXIUS: Dynamic Ladies, Mr D W Watt, Mr A Turnbull, Mr J W Lyons, Mr G A Hoult, Mr M P Bottcher, Mr M P Carroll, C J R Racing, Mr A Cranes, Mr S D Murray, Mr R Roberts, Mr D Coughtrey, Mr J R Carter, Mr A G Mitchell, Bimbadeen Racing, Mr G J Cooper, Mr R J Gath, Mr G Rassos, Yulestar
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Race Summary:
Axius ridden by Tim Clark jumped well from barrier 2, settled midfield the fence, 3 pairs back. Over-raced in the middle stages. Approaching the 700m, had to be steadied after improving onto the heels of FAR TOO EASY when the pace of the race slackened. AXIUS laid out rounding the turn from the 600m. He continued to over-race for a short distance thereafter. After angling off the heels of the leaders at the top of the straight, he was hampered momentarily before pushing through a gap to find clear running at the 250m. He let down beautifully into full stride and reeled in the leader with 100m to go. Surged past his rivals final 100m to win convincingly by 0.7 lengths.
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The win was yet another significant moment for Dynamic Syndications and trainer Ciaron Maher, capping off a successful Magic Millions Carnival and yearling sale.
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Race 6 - $1m Howden Magic Millions Snippets 1200m
Gold Coast Track: Good (4) Time: 1:08.54 (600m 34.60),
1st Axius - 4g Justify (USA) x Orontes (AUS) (by Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Tim Clark 56.0kgs MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale: $200,000
Seller: Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Dynamic Syndications/Dean Watt Bloodstock/Ciaron Maher Racing
2nd 0.7 len Payline Tnr: Chris & Corey Munce Rdr: Damian Lane 56.0kgs
3rd 1.99 len Scampi Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 56.0kgs
As a Magic Millions graduate, his two week-to-week race starts on the Gold Coast banked $22,500 for his third place in the Rising Star C&G on the 10th January and he grabbed $582,500 in the Snippets, taking his gross prizemoney earnings for his Gold Coast Trip to $604,700.
Including his first-up victory at Randwick to start this preparation, where that win earned $82,500, that takes his return for the three starts this time in to $687,200.
AXIUS
4yo Chestnut Gelding
D.O.B: 17-Sep-2021
by JUSTIFY (USA) from ORONTES
Summary: 9-5:1:1 Prizemoney: $835,450
Min/Max-Dist-Win: 1100/1300 1st Up: 3:2-1-0 2nd Up: 3:1-0-1
Firm: 0:0-0-0 Good: 4:2-0-1 Soft: 4:2-1-0 Heavy: 1:1-0-0
This victory was Dynamic Syndications 26th Race Win for the current racing season and recorded our 977th Race Win Overall.
Onwards and Upwards – Forever Forwards!