SHE PACKED A PUNCH – IT’S A KNOCKOUT SMASHES THEM AT RANDWICK!

“The hardest part of the race win was pulling her up!” according to her jockey Braith Nock as our DUNDEEL mare proves she’s certainly up to stakes class — and then some!


IT'S A KNOCKOUT delivers a savage blow to her peers

It was a cool winter’s Saturday afternoon at Royal Randwick, in the shadows of the grandstand and under the gaze of the racing faithful, our 4-year-old Dynamic Syndications mare IT’S A KNOCKOUT delivered a performance that was nothing short of a significant statement.

A stakes-class in waiting statement.

It's A KNOCKOUT obliterates her rivals resuming from a spell

In Race 8 – the $160,000 TRAFFIC WARDEN @ DARLEY HANDICAP (1400m), a Bm78, 3yo and upwards with 15 runners. She didn’t just win — she pulverised the field. She controlled it. She dominated them. Eased down late, never in danger, and stopping the clock in slick time on a Soft 5 surface.

It’s A Knockout blitzed her Benchmark 78 rivals under a masterful ride by apprentice Braith Nock for trainer Ciaron Maher and took home $82,500 for her Dynamic Ownership Team. 

Entering this event as a Benchmark 77 rated mare, into a Benchmark 78 against the boys, she was allocated the template weight of 59.5kgs then less 2.0kgs for being a mare = 57.5kgs. Next was the masterstroke of a claim of 2.0kgs for in form apprentice rider Braith Nock.

That ensured she would carry just 55.5kgs in this race. A luxury for a mare of her ability. 

Jumping cleanly from barrier 11, Braith allowed the mare to find her rhythm just forward of midfield with cover, poised to pounce.

As the field rounded the bend, he angled into the clear and gave her the green light — and she exploded.

In just a few strides, the race was over.



She sprinted away at the 300m mark and put a space on her rivals.



Braith sat quietly, easing her down over the final 25 metres.









Despite that soft finish, she still clocked a winning time of 1:22.65 — and the final 600m in 35.36 — utterly dominant by 4.14 lengths.

But here’s the part that matters:

On the same program, just one race later, the Listed Civic Stakes — the feature event of the day — was run over the exact same track and distance.

And It’s A Knockout went faster; much faster.

Her final time of 1:22.65 was 0.33 seconds quicker than Civic Stakes winner Headly Grange — and that’s approximately 2 lengths.

Even more telling, her last 600m was a sizzling 1.04 seconds faster — around 7 lengths superior. She also carried 55.5kgs which was 1.5kg more than the male stakes winner Headly Grange who only had 54.0kgs, and under level weights conditions, mares would receive a 2.0kg sex allowance — meaning she was carrying about a length more disadvantage again.

All up, she effectively ran to a performance around 3.5kg superior — about 2.5 lengths better — and had plenty up her sleeve as she was eased down late.

PEDIGREE & PROFILE

It’s A Knockout is a stunning 4YO daughter of DUNDEEL (NZ) from the smart city winning 2yo SPORT CHIC (by Redoute’s Choice), Already a Gr3 placed mare, she is the full sister to Dealmaker a 10-times stakes performer. Foaled 24 October 2020, she was purchased by Dynamic Syndications as a yearling with the belief she’d furnish into a serious galloper — and now, she’s delivering on that promise in spades.



Racecaller Darren Flindell’s call from the 300m mark: 



“Oh Diamond Lil and on the outside It's A Knockout - and It's A Knockout took the lead, now got a length and a half clear from Oh Diamond Lil, Glad You Think So, Captain Amelia. but It's A Knockout is going to blow them away! It's A Knockout beat Oh Diamond Lil, Glad You Think so third, Captain Amelia fourth, …..” 



Sky Central’s commentator Ben Way said:

“It's a Knockout, that's the name of the game, alright! Braith Knock gets his first of the day. Ciaron Maher strikes as well. A four-year-old daughter of Dundeel wins again at start eight, that is win number three and prizemoney goes towards $300,000 now. She's been an absolute ripper. Resumes with a lovely return there. Now for the minors. The six Oh Diamond Lil has certainly had its opportunity, had a beautiful run in transit, sprinted well but was no match for the 11 in the end. 14 will run into the minors as well Glad You Think So upon resumption. So, a run of merit there, maybe worth following deeper into the prep and Captain Amelia justifies some of that each way support although well backed in the end to around that $4.60 mark has ultimately had to settle for fourth.”


Ron Dufficy added: 

“Yeah, well they should've went on with the job there as far as the market support earlier this morning, because that was a one act affair. She just chimed into it beautifully for Braith, and she had that terrific fresh form. I'm just wondering; where she's always looked like she's going to be a 2000 metre mare, maybe she's she might be more the miler, and might be more speed in the legs. Just running her in these races, just looking at that, because that's the best turn of speed that she shown throughout a career.” 


IT'S A KNOCKOUT Returning to the Winner's Circle after the win







Corey Brown for Sky added in about the jockey Braith Knock:

“He’s riding absolutely outstanding at the moment, watching him, he's putting every horse in the right position. He's taking the right runs and his timing is impeccable. He's getting there all the right time. So, he's well beyond his years, Braith.”

Ben Way then said: “Absolutely he is he’s going great guns Braith Nock.

“Joh is here with us, (Johann Gerard-Dubord) and he was nodding in agreement. This is a horse that’s resumed with a barnstorming win over 1400m. You went to a Group 3 Epona Stakes at 1900m last prep. Do you get the impression she is more a miler now? 

Joh answered “Yeah, we did learn a bit about her last prep. She’s a Dundeel, and we always felt stepping out a bit in trip will suit, but I think she’s just good fresh horse, and she’s actually a bit sharper than we thought she would be in time, and she proved that today. That was a beautiful ride, ended up in a great spot from tricky barrier and just took his time, exposed her at the right time and obviously she was very dominant late, and it was good to see her do that first up.”

Ben Way then said: “She was placed in group three company last preparation in the Aspiration. Do you have high hopes again this prep? Maybe in the early spring?” 

Joh responded: “Yeah, we do. Like I said, we were learning about her still. And I think the key is to space the runs, too. She's very good fresh, but, you know, first two runs, last preparation, obviously. On the back of that you would be confident that there is a lot more to come. But as always, it’s very good to get a winner for Dynamic Syndications, they are very good supporters and one of the main owners Steve Freeman had it tough lately with the floods. So, I think that she might make him feel a bit better there. Thank you.”

Ben Way concludes with Joh, “It certainly will. Well said, well done. Thanks very much Joh.”

“Alright 11, 6, 14 and 9 and they closed in 35.36. Now that margin is a talking point in itself. Four and a quarter lengths; has put an absolute gap on them there. It's A Knockout for Ciaron Maher. So, the overall time 1:22.65 and the margins between 2nd and 3rd for what it's worth, 3/4 of a length. The 11 beats the 6 the 14 and the 9. Braith just making his way back in what has become fairly familiar circumstances for him, going from strength to strength. Taking out the apprentice’s title, no troubles there, and he's actually jumped in the Top 10 when it comes to the seniors as well!”

Corey Brown confirms and says to Braith Knock: “Absolutely super at the moment and that all went to plan.”


BRAITH KNOCK - Sydney's Number 1 apprentice in the 2024/25 season

Braith answers: “It did. Originally, I thought I would have to be outside leader, but there was a few out there that wanted to be up amongst them, so without doing anything really, just flowed across and just go beautiful spot behind the favourite, second favourite whatever it was. Just a bit of a slap-up coming around the bend, and then she came up underneath me and – all over.”

Corey asked: “It looked the winner a long way out. Did it feel like that?" 

Braith respond: “Did, she just switched off really good and I wasn't sure how much I was going to have when I rode her out. Just coming up on the bridle before they sprinted, and the hardest part of that race really was pulling her up!”

Official Record:


1 of 15 RAND 21Jun25 1400m Soft5 BM78 $160,000 ($82,500) Braith Nock (a) 57.5kg (cd 55.5kg) Barrier 11 Rtg 77
2nd Oh Diamond Lil 59kg, 3rd Glad You Think So 53.5kg 1:22.65 (600m 35.36), 4.14L, 5th@800m, 5th@400m, $4.20/$5/$5.50/$6

The Handicapper certainly didn’t miss her for this win, whacking her another 8 Benchmark Points taking her to a Bm85. 

IT’S A KNOCKOUT
4yo Bay Mare
D.O.B: 24-Oct-2020
by DUNDEEL (NZ) from SPORT CHIC
Summary: 8-3:2:1 and Prizemoney incl. Bonus: $310,175
Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Warwick Farm)

Gabby Nutt, & Aussie Joh (Ciaron Maher Team) with Adam Watt (Dynamic) - winners are grinners !

Our team acknowledge our mare's terrific effort as we all begin to dream!

CONGRATULATIONS to our DYNAMIC OWNERS of IT’S A KNOCKOUT: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr S R Freeman, Dawn & Kaz, Mrs K L Harliwich, Mr L Harliwich, Mr P A Craig.

This win was Dynamic Syndications 51st Race Win for the 2024/25 Season and recorded our 941st Race Win Overall. 


IT'S A KNOCKOUT a great type with a prominent crooked blaze 

IT’S A KNOCKOUT Career Snapshot:

•      $150,000 Magic Millions purchase from Arrowfield Stud
• Starts: 8
• Wins: 3 = Randwick, Rosehill, Kensington
• Placings: 2 seconds, 1 third
• Prizemoney: $310,175 inc $11,250 BOBS Bonuses
• Best Distance: 1400–1500m
• 1st Up Form: 3: 2–1–0
• 2nd Up Form: 2: 0-1-1 
• Soft Track Record: 3: 2–1–0
•      Good Track Record: 5: 1-1-1
• Randwick Record: 4: 1–2–1

FROM THE TEAM:


“We’ve always had faith that she had black-type stakes winning ability, and Saturday keeps us engaged that Stakes Wins are in her future,” said Dynamic Syndications’ Adam Watt. “The sectionals don’t lie. She ran the time, carried weight, and outperformed the feature Civic Stakes winner on the card — and Braith didn’t even move on her late. She’s a mare on the rise, and she’s going to be aimed accordingly.”

“We’ll regroup with Ciaron, Joh and the Team, and map out a path toward some well-deserved black type targets for the early Spring. She’s a lovely mare who’s flying — and now with this resumption run under the belt, she’s confirmed herself as a stakes horse in waiting.”

Watch this space — the best is yet to come.