You can
only win your Maiden once!
So, when
the opportunity presents where that single win is worth the equivalent of a
Stakes Race, you don’t leave it to chance.
You identify it, plan for it,
and execute. The keys to unlocking racetrack riches.
That’s
exactly what Dynamic Syndications did with PRINCE DE VEGA.
We
pinpointed a seemingly ordinary 1400m Maiden Handicap at Bathurst on ANZAC
DAY, Saturday 25 April 2026.
On paper, it was worth $27,000. In
reality, it was worth $113,950 to the winner.
What wasn’t
advertised in the calendar was that this race is part of the Inglis Race
Series “Xtra” Bonus scheme, one of 50 selected maiden races carrying a massive
$100,000 bonus to the winner.
We saw the
opportunity. We set the plan. PRINCE DE VEGA delivered.
The race
appears in the racing calendar as a standard country maiden worth $27,000, with
$13,950 to the winner. However, what was is not declared is that the
race forms part of the Inglis Race Series “Xtra” Bonus.
To be eligible
for the $5,000,000 Inglis Race Series, a horse must be a graduate of an
Inglis sale and fully nominated and paid-up ($5,500) for the Series. They must
also be three years old or older and foaled from 2021 onwards.
PRINCE
DE VEGA met all criteria.
He was
purchased by Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock at the 2024
Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, Lot 464, for $80,000 plus GST.
Offered by Yulong
Stud, PRINCE DE VEGA is by LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) from PRINCESS LAYAN (IRE).
Yulong
purchased the mare in the UK, bred her to Southern Hemisphere time, and
transported her to Australia in foal.
This first
foal of Princess Layan (IRE) was offered through the Melbourne Premier Sale,
where we secured the colt.
Winning
this race was no surprise. PRINCE DE VEGA had been building towards a
result with strong form leading into this country grade event, although he had
not been ridden to advantage at key moments.
From seven
starts prior to this win, he had recorded two seconds and a third,
plus a fourth at Canterbury.
Three runs
back, he finished runner-up by 0.75 length at Edenhope over 1200m. He
then ran third at Yarra Valley over 1200m, beaten 0.85 length. Returning
to New South Wales, he again finished runner-up at Goulburn over 1200m,
beaten 0.92 length whilst the third placed horse was Hellfire Henry who
finished 0.13 length behind PRINCE DE VEGA.
To say he
was “due” was an understatement.
Whilst the
race looked ideal on paper, we were mindful it would be stronger than a typical
maiden, with other leading stables also targeting the $100,000 Inglis Bonus.
As
expected, it attracted a far stronger field than usual for this grade. Gai
Waterhouse and Adrian Bott had the runner which finish third. Gerald
Ryan and Sterling Alexiou saddled the favourite, who was unplaced. Four (4)
Warwick Farm trainers were represented in the race. Ciaron Maher trained
PRINCE DE VEGA. Jarrod Austin prepared the runner-up, while Greg
Hickman and Paul Cave also had runners engaged. Annabel and Rob
Archibald had scratched their runner, whilst Scone trainer Scott
Singleton had two runners.
PRINCE
DE VEGA brought the
right profile and ratings into the race, and the Ciaron Maher team
had him peaking for this preparation.
It would
come down to tactics.
He is a headstrong
individual who naturally wants to jump and run. Previous attempts to restrain
him had cost him winning opportunities.
We knew
that if he received the right ride, he would be hard to beat. That task was
given to Clayton Gallagher.
From
barrier 3 in a field of 9, the draw was ideal. However, the key was to find
cover or at least a horse to follow. Without that, he risked over-racing
and doing too much work.
On paper,
we anticipated landing one pair back on the fence, but races are not run on
paper. Clayton was instructed to find cover wherever possible, the race
unfolded perfectly.
As the
gates opened, PRINCE DE VEGA jumped cleanly. As we expected, the
eventual runner-up Hellfire Henry speared across from barrier 8 to take up the
lead. With no other runner going forward, PRINCE DE VEGA settled at the
leader’s girth passing the 1000m.
Clayton was
able to get him to relax into a rhythm, travelling comfortably one off the
fence.
The leader
then extended its margin to two lengths from the 1000m to the 400m, setting a
genuine tempo that had the rest of the field chasing.
Turning for
home, PRINCE DE VEGA moved up on the outside,
but the leader kicked
again and maintained a two-length advantage at the 300m.
From there,
the race intensified.
Stride by
stride, PRINCE DE VEGA closed the gap. Nothing from behind was making
ground. Passing the 250m, it became a two-horse war.
We had the
leader covered when, at the 220m, it shifted out abruptly under pressure
and cannoned into PRINCE DE VEGA.
The
interference was costly.
Momentum
was lost, balance was affected, and Clayton had to stop riding to regather. In
that incident we went from having the race in our keeping to having to win it
all over again.
PRINCE
DE VEGA rallied,
drew level again at the 100m,
and then hit the front inside the final 60m.
The
runner-up refused to give in, and the final 50m became a test of grit and
determination.
With
Hellfire Henry holding a half-kilogram weight advantage having met us at level
weights last start, the contest went right to the line.
PRINCE
DE VEGA refused to yield.
When the
camera flashed, the margin was a nose (0.02 length).
Our Dynamic galloper
had repelled the challenge to score a deserved victory over Hellfire Henry,
with Think I Will 1.35 lengths away in third.
On a Soft
5, PRINCE DE VEGA recorded a slick 1:22.19, with a last 600m
of 34.89.
JOB
DONE!
Justice
prevailed on the track rather than in the stewards’ room.
Post-race,
jockey Clayton Gallagher said:
“G’day connections. Look, he fought on
quite strongly there today. I was a little bit concerned. I had a rush of blood
and got there and hit the front a little bit too soon. I think the training
tactics were quite nice there, he’s definitely a lot better chaser and it
proved that there today. As it’s going up in grade, I certainly would be riding
it with a little bit of cover and attacking late again. Thanks.”
RESPECT
THE DAY MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m)
1st of 9
BATH 25Apr26 1400m
Soft 5 MDN HCP $27,000 ($13,950) Clayton Gallagher 59kg Bar 3
2nd
Hellfire Henry 58.5kg, 3rd Think I Will 59kg
Time:
1:22.19 (Last 600m 34.89), Margin: 0.02L
In-Run:
2nd@800m, 2nd@400m. SP: $8.50/$12/$13/$14
PRINCE
DE VEGA
by LOPE
DE VEGA (IRE) from PRINCESS LAYAN (IRE)
3yo
Chestnut Gelding, D.O.B: 10-Aug-2022
Career
Summary: 8=1:2:1
Prizemoney:
$31,990 + $100,000
Inglis Bonus
Congratulations to the Dynamic Ownership Team that race PRINCE DE VEGA: Dynamic
No 151, Mr A L Giddings, Drumroll, Mr D G Templar, Mr J B Edward, Mr S Hill, Mr
M Rasmussen, Mr M A Cowley, Mr M Dougherty, Mr D T Lyons, Laughing all the Way,
Mr J Cordoma, Mr A Cranes, Mr P G Falvey, Mrs L A Butler, Miss T L McManus,
Wonder What They're Doing Racing, Mrs P Smith, Mr S R Niven, J & KJ Davis
Family
This win
by PRINCE DE VEGA took our Overall Tally to 993 Race
Wins since October 2005.
PRINCE
DE VEGA became Dynamic Syndications 337th
Individual Winner from 370 Individual
Runners (91.1%).
Whilst
this was the 42nd Race Win for this racing
season.
Importantly,
this was our Second INGLIS Xtra $100,000
Bonus Win in the past 8 weeks.
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Juvenal
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On the 27th
of February, Dynamic Syndications 3yo gelding JUVENAL (Mick Price and Mick Kent Jr) won a $100,000
bonus race at Cranbourne.
Now PRINCE
DE VEGA has won a $100,000 bonus at Bathurst and taken his overall
earnings to $131,990.
Onwards
and Upwards. Forever Forwards!