Trust in NASH to Get the CASH as AXIUS Off the Mat to Snatch Wonderful WIN

In a game where "an inch is as good as a mile," connections, spectators and punters alike were left speechless at Royal Randwick on Saturday, when the Dynamic Syndications 4yo AXIUS (Justify x Orontes) having been down for the count, climbed off the mat, and under the hands and heels urging of super hoop Nash Rawiller, AXIUS snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to win Race 4 the Jack Ingham AO Handicap, a Bm78 over 1200m. 



Such was the forlorn hope at the 300m, most watching would have been ripping up their tickets on AXIUS, the $3.50 second favourite, as the $2.60 favourite Snack Bar swept around the outside of AXIUS giving our boy a cold, as he dashed away posting a two-length margin with 200m left to run. 

It appeared AXIUS would finish closer to last than first, but a cool head by Nash, he changed course with AXIUS to get the horse to the outside and be the widest runner with 100m to run. 

AXIUS went to the barriers as the $3.50 second favourite but was gone and according to Betfair was traded at 900/1. Nash put the persuader away with 100m to run and sitting a length and a half off the leaders, gave chase. 

AXIUS running freely allowed his enormous length of stride to flow, and stride-by-stride reeled in the favourite.

With 50m left to run AXIUS was now in full flight and sizzled home with incredible momentum and as the camera flashed, commentators believed the favourite had hung on but the TV angle was not aligned with the winning post.



When the developed print was flashed on the infield screen, AXIUS had arrived in time to claim victory. 

Wow – What a Win!

Our plans were to be positive as his determined racing pattern. 

As the gates crashed back, AXIUS was away well, then the horse Bundeena (Sam Clipperton) to his immediate outside made a savage move towards the rail and cannoned into AXIUS. This check almost knocked our horse off his feet. 

To compound that, $61 no hoper King Tauras (Winona Costin) went straight left and bashed into AXIUS. So AXIUS was pushed around like a pinball machine and lost valuable track position and balance. Nash would later advise he had to gather our horse up underneath him, to get back into a rhythm which meant AXIUS landed four-lengths further back in the run than anticipated. 

Whilst this was unfolding, at the 1000m marker, the leader Smashing Time was getting it easy up front and had taken a dominant lead over Bundeena and Huon. 

Then a gap of two lengths to Laurel Hill the fence, AXIUS in the middle, then Miss Kim Kar, and Snack Bar to its outside with a further two lengths to King Taurus and Althoff at the rear. 

Passing the 800m, the field had strung out a bit with AXIUS sitting in sixth spot, six lengths off the lamplighter with the favourite at our girth.

With no change and no moves coming as the field thundered past the 600m marker, it was going to develop into a determined fight up the straight as the field began its swing into the turn from the 500m. It was Nash who got going first, coming out 3 deep pushing Snack Bar four deep, as the field started to pack up on the point of the turn. 

As the field straightened at the 400m for the run home, the race began to change shape. 

AXIUS was now forced 5-deep with Snack Bar the widest runner 6-deep, as the field balanced for the sprint home. 

At this point we were expecting AXIUS to extend quickly and put the race away, but that certainly didn’t happen. 

At the 350m Snack Bar had moved up to eyeball AXIUS, with both horses 4-lengths off the leader Smashing Time. 

At the 300m Snack Bar had swept past AXIUS and was extending away with each stride.

That placed AXIUS between Snack Bar and Huon which was to his inside.

AXIUS didn’t wish to stay in between runners and wouldn’t extend into there, despite the urging of Nash to take that run.

 





Passing the furlong marker, the race was still evolving. Smashing Time had gassed out and was stopping. Bundeena who bashed us at the start was now the leader and going strongly, Huon was now fighting with Snack Bar for second and third spots, whilst AXIUS had dropped back to fifth spot and to be fair was yielding ground, hence why 900/1 was reportedly traded on Betfair. 



Nash would later advise connections; he felt the horse was hesitating and he had to try something different. So, he angled out to be widest runner on the track from the 150m mark, as Bundeena was still a half-length in front but Snack Bar who was closing rapidly on the leader with AXIUS still 2 lengths adrift of Snack Bar. 



As the field thundered past the 100m mark, the $2.60 favourite Snack Bar had now overtaken Bundeena for the lead. Huon was there between them a neck back in third place, ahead of Smashing Time with AXIUS still angling out, back in fifth two lengths away. 



By now connections were just hoping to hang on and maybe run fourth. Nash got to the outside with 80m to go and its like a light switch moment. AXIUS now free, began to lengthen stride beautifully and gather in Snack Bar, Bundeena and Huon. 

With 50m to go, Snack Bar was a neck in front of Bundeena, who was a neck in front of Huon, whilst AXIUS had got the better of Smashing Time, and had run Snack Bar to a one length margin. 



Snack Bar was being called the winner, but connections, and punters couldn’t believe our eyes, as AXIUS who was a beaten horse at the 300m mark and trading at 900/1 on Betfair, was eating into the margin. 



At the 25m post, AXIUS had swept past Huon and Bundeena into second spot, whilst Althoff was now finishing fast along the inside. 



Hands and Heels and balanced, Nash pushed AXIUS to the line and our horse responded with every muscle, tendon and sinew, striving to succeed and catch the leader. 



However, surely the margin was too big with just 4 strides remaining until the camera flashed? 



Nobody told AXIUS or Nash that they couldn’t get there, and with four massive strides and Nash pushing our horse along, the camera flashed, and it was AXIUS who had his nose on the line to win by a flared nostril. 





Owners and connections were delirious with excitement trackside, watching AXIUS deliver the knockout blow in the final stride to claim the $82,500 first prize cheque, having been down for the count at the 300m.  





JOB DONE!





AXIUS has taken his career resume to 7 starts: 4 Wins, 1 second, 1 fourth and $230,750. 

He’s a Winner! Some horses keep winning whilst the majority keep losing.

Lightly raced, AXIUS is going through his grades nicely, being trained perfectly by Aussie Joh and the Team and Ciaron Maher Racing whilst AXIUS has been placed to perfection by Adam Watt at Dynamic. 

AXIUS won his Maiden at Canterbury, and then a Bm72 on the Kensington track followed by a second win in a Bm72 at Kensington. Now he has won at Randwick on a Saturday in a Bm78. He’s won on Good, Soft and Heavy tracks. 

Sky Thoroughbred Central commentator Greg Radley asked Ciaron Maher’s stable foreman Johann Gerard-Dubord (Aussie Joh):

“You have to watch that race over and over again, to get a sense of just how good that win was!”

Joh responded: “Yeah once you get the result, its good to keep watching it. Until we knew what the result was, obviously it was a bit concerning, but that was a huge win. It was a good ride from Nash early, keeping the favourite wide. He’s (AXIUS) a horse that uses his momentum, he’s got a huge action. So, once they quickened in front of him, it looked like it was all over, but that last bit, once he got his momentum, the last 50m was very impressive.”

Greg Radley added in: “It’s amazing when horses can’t win at the 200m, can’t win at the 50m, but still do!”

Joh agreed: “He’s obviously a horse whose very lightly raced, and a very good win record. He obviously loves winning, he keeps getting better so, it’s a good way to start the prep. It’s great to get another win for Dynamic. He’s a lovely horse and they have been very patient with him, he’s got a lot of furnishing, a lot of improvement to come. He is very exciting!”  

Nash Rawiller was then interviewed and said: 



“He was brilliant that last bit. He really was. I never lost faith in him. When the grey horse got round me, it probably looked the winner. I thought he was reluctant to really stride out, and show what he is made of, and to some degree, I just had to reset and as soon as Tommy cleared me, I was able to come to his outside. What shocked me was the way my bloke was able to pick up, and I never thought he had that still there, but he was able to deliver.”

“You had a lot to do with him last preparation as well?”

“Yeah, I have always had a lot of time for the horse. He has really matured nicely into himself now. He can run a strong seven (1400m), he will get a bit of confidence out of that (win). He’s done that off one trial, so the preparation is looking pretty good for him, and at the start, I got pretty smashed too, that’s why we were back where we were. Thank you.”

Nash then did a post-race report with Adam Watt from Dynamic for our owners: 



“Yeah, wrapped with that! I tell you what, it’s a lot better when you win by a short half-head than when you get beat. I wasn’t 100% certain on the line. I thought we had done it. Look it was a great effort by the horse. He got smashed coming out of the gates. I had to ride him a bit quieter, he relaxed beautifully, and look to be fair, I was forced to start creeping into the race before the corner, and that worried me a fair bit. Obviously when the grey horse got round me, he was reluctant to give his best and really fight out the finish with that horse. But as soon at it cleared me, I sensed it died on its run, and thankfully Axius was still building. So, he’s done a great job. He didn’t deserve to win it but he went after it and won it, and it was pretty thrilling.”

Adam signed off with: “See you on the Gold Coast.” 

Nash confirmed: “Yep, cheers!”

AXIUS is a Magic Millions Yearling Purchase and has been targeted for a race on the Gold Coast in January which will be his next race start. 



CONGRATULATIONS to the DYNAMIC 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



AXIUS 4yo Chestnut Gelding
D.O.B: 17-Sep-2021
by JUSTIFY (USA) from ORONTES (by Redoute’s Choice)

Summary: 7-4:1:0:1 Prizemoney: $230,750 Dist-Win: 1100/1300 
1st Up: 3:2-1-0 2nd Up: 2:1-0-0 Good: 2:1-0-0 Soft: 4:2-1-0 Heavy: 1:1-0-0

1st of 10 RAND 13Dec25 1200m Good4 BM78 $160,000 ($82,500) Nash Rawiller 58.5kg Bar3 Bm75 2nd Snack Bar 58kg, 3rd Althoff 54.5kg 1:10.29 (600m 35.06), 0.01L, 6th@800m, 6th@400m, $3.80/$4/$3.60/$3.50