‘I never dreamt I would get a horse like I Am Me’: Owners on cloud nine ahead of 2024 The Everest
Cattle farmers, a cafe owner, a child care worker, an accountant, a property developer – even a Sheikh from the United Arab Emirates. The owners of I Am Me are proof that everyone has a chance in racing. This is their story.
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Almost as fast as I Am Me can run, her part-owner Allan Robertson was straight to the point.
“I’m nearly 80 and life is running out,’’ Robertson said matter-of-factly.
“But I could talk about I Am Me all day long, she has given me a huge boost. I can’t believe I was lucky enough to get a share in her – I absolutely love her.’’
Robertson is among the syndicate of owners that races I Am Me, the Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter that is one of the leading chances in the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
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The origin of the quotation “everyone is equal when they walk into a racetrack” is often questioned but whoever first penned it would not have realised how aptly it describes racehorse syndications.
Take I Am Me’s ownership group as an example. Dean Watt’s Dynamic Syndications has assembled a diversified group of owners from all walks of life to race the brilliant mare.
It’s already been a ride of the lifetime for the owners – and that’s before they experience what it is like to watch their horse competing in the world’s richest turf race.
One of the criticisms when The Everest was first announced was the race would be the reserve of the rich and famous.
But the inaugural running of The Everest in 2017 was won by Redzel, raced by a syndicate of everyday Australians. Redzel had his owners celebrating again when he went back-to-back in 2018.
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Then, another syndicated sprinter, Think About It, added his name to the race’s honour roll last year.
In Saturday’s big race, I Am Me is not the only syndicated sprinter in the field. There’s dual Everest placegetter Private Eye of Proven Thoroughbreds, too.
The owners of I Am Me are proof that everyone has a chance in racing. They include a cafe owner, child care worker, cattle farmers, accountant, property developer, even a Sheikh from the United Arab Emirates. This is their story.
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THE NURSE WHO WAS A RACECALLER
Robertson’s lifelong interest in racing was fuelled by his grandmother’s penchant for the punt.
“My grandmother used to have a bet every Saturday,’’ Robertson said.
“I remember she used to say to me on Saturday morning ‘now you go to buggery and don’t bring any of your mates over, this is my day, it is raceday’.
“Then she would write her bets down on a piece of paper and send me down to the local pub where we had a SP bookie.
“She used to give me too much money so I would ask the bookie if I could have a bet and he would let me on. More often than not I would come home with 15 ‘bob’ in the pocket.’’
Robertson, who resides in Georgetown, devoted his professional life to nursing in the Newcastle and Hunter regions, but he picked up some extra work as a caller at the Cessnock greyhounds.
“It was big money in those days – I would get $5 for calling but I enjoyed it,’’ he said.
“One day at Cessnock, a mate said ‘have a look out the window, do you know who that is?’
“I had no idea and my mate said that it was Johnny Tapp and he had a dog in the next race called Bolisabo.
“The name just rolled off the tongue and would you believe the dog bolted in.’’
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Robertson used to also go to the Sydney and Newcastle races frequently on his days off work.
“I’ve seen some good horses over the years. Luskin Star was the best horse from my region, Black Caviar was great and Winx, of course,’’ he said.
“I love the horses but never dreamt I would get one like I Am Me. I saw her advertised as a yearling and I thought I have to get a share in her.
“She is by far the best horse I have had anything to do with. She is a freak.’’
Robertson lost his wife with breast cancer 30 years ago and he is now suffering from Parkinson’s Disease but nothing will keep him from attending The Everest on Saturday.
“I’ve got two lovely daughters and they look after me,’’ he said.
“Janine takes me everywhere and she will take me to The Everest. She’s actually (put together) a beautiful piece of jewellery, a necklace with a horse’s head on it, that we will give (jockey) Nash Rawiller well before the race as a good-luck charm.’’
Robertson is understandably excited about Saturday’s race but regardless of the result, he’s already a person who is content with life.
“There’s not every man you talk to that can say they have through their life achieved everything they dreamed of doing,’’ he said.
“But I can honestly say that everything I would like to do in life I have done. More importantly, I’ve got a beautiful family and this beautiful horse.’’
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MADE WITH LOVE
I Am Me’s jockey Nash Rawiller will be gifted a special lucky charm for his ride on the brilliant sprinter on Saturday.
Robertson revealed his daughter, Janine, had made a necklace they would give to Rawiller to wear during the big race.
“She has actually put together a beautiful piece of jewellery, a necklace with a horse’s head on it, that we will give Nash before the race as a good luck charm,’’ Robertson said.
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RACING ROYALTY
There’s one name in the I Am Me ownership group which immediately draws attention – Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The Sheikh, the first cousin of the current ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is the breeder and part-owner of I Am Me.
When I Am Me was offered for sale at the 2020 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, the filly was purchased by Watt’s Dynamic Syndications for $210,000 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Interestingly, she is branded DXB – which is the airport code for Dubai International Airport.
“Sheikh Mohammed bred and sold I Am Me and then we asked him to come back in the ownership group,’’ Watt said.
“I feel it helps if the breeder believes in the product so we asked if he would take five per cent and he took 15 per cent of the horse.’’
This one loves the ring - check out her ears 👂 👂
— Inglis (@inglis_sales) March 2, 2020
$210k sees this I Am Invincible x Mefnooda filly go to @Dynamic_WONIT - looks very nice indeed!
Congratulations to @SegenhoeGroup on the sale, Oaklands Junction is buzzing now for #InglisPremier! pic.twitter.com/lnJUN9dBPa
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THE FAMILY MAN
Scott Finnigan’s family will never forget I Am Me’s first win in a Canberra maiden two years ago.
“I Am Me missed the start by three or four lengths but still won,’’ Finnigan said.
“My daughters always talk about that race because it was ‘Children’s Day’ and there were pony rides, castles and slides for them to play on. They thought that was a normal day at the races.
“We were the only owners there and it took us a long time to find the winner’s room. Since then, we have gone to Scone, Flemington, Adelaide, Canberra, Rosehill and Randwick to watch her race.
“The one race that we missed we had planned a trip to the Gold Coast theme parks and we watched her win on the phone at Dreamworld.’’
Finnigan, 37, and his wife, Tash, operate childcare centres in Canberra. They have two children. Ella (9) and Gemma (7), and said nothing will stop them being at Royal Randwick on Saturday to watch I Am Me in The Everest.
“Racing has been a passion all my life,’’ Finnigan said.
“But we had to wait until we were in a financial position where we could buy a share in a racehorse.
“Racing is an amazing sport and to have our kids involved, the whole environment where kids are welcomed and encouraged to be there is so good.
“This is a sensational ride with I Am Me – it is life-changing for my family.’’
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LUCKY GEORGE
If Dynamic Syndications’ Dean and Adam Watt had their way, George Rassos would be in all their racehorse ownership groups.
Rassos has been involved with Dynamic for more than 25 years and has shared in the ownership of some of their best racehorses including Cox Plate winner Savabeel and Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort.
“I’ve been nicknamed ‘Lucky George’ at Dynamic,’’ Rassos said.
“Back in 1997, Max Whitby introduced me to Dean Watt and I have raced horses with them for many years.’’
Rassos, 65, has worked all his life in the hospitality industry and owns the popular Organic Grind cafe at Sydney Olympic Park.
“With my Greek background I’ve always been in cafes,’’ he said.
“I used to have a cafe called Signature at Parramatta near the old 2KY building so I met all the people who worked at the radio station.
“Greg Radley (Sky Thoroughbred Central presenter) once gave me a good tip many years ago on a horse called General Parker and it won at 20/1.’’
Rassos revealed leading Sydney businessman and entrepreneur Gerry Harvey indirectly inspired him to buy into I Am Me.
“I was sitting next to Gerry Harvey on a plane one day. He introduced himself and I said I know who you are,’’ Rassos said.
“We started talking about horses and he said if I’m going to buy a horse, try and get a Snitzel or a I Am Invincible.
“When Dynamic purchased I Am Me at the Inglis Premier Sale, I noticed she was by I Am Invincible so I had to get involved.’’
Rassos is originally from Victoria and his first racetrack memory is going to the 1976 Melbourne Cup when Van Der Hum won in pouring rain.
“Racing is a fantastic industry, you meet so many people and the door opens up right across the hospitality industry, too,’’ he said.
“Touch wood, I’ve had over 50 horses and nearly every single one has done well but I feel very lucky to have a horse in The Everest.’’
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LIVING THE DREAM
Anthony Mitchell’s StrataSurv company did the survey work at Royal Randwick when it was redeveloped and certified the finishing post camera alignments.
The photo finish had I Am Me narrowly in front for both the Concorde Stakes and The Shorts this spring to earn a start in The Everest.
Mitchell, 57, a former amateur soccer player who won State Championships with Epping Eastwood, said The Everest wasn’t initially I Am Me’s main goal this spring carnival.
“The Sydney Sprint Series was the target, we were looking at running in The Invitation but I Am Me has come out of the blocks and beaten everyone this spring,’’ Mitchell said.
Similarly, Mitchell’s expectations were modest when he first got into racing five years ago.
“I just wanted a runner in Sydney, then I wanted a winner and I’ve kept ticking off the boxes,’’ Mitchell said.
“All the horses I’ve had shares in have been with Dynamic. If someone does the right thing by me then I stick with them.
“I have shares in about 20 horses at the moment, I’m spreading the love a bit, but that’s the beauty of syndication, you might only have a small share but it feels like you own the whole thing.’’
So, how does Mitchell sum up the ride with I Am Me to The Everest?
“When people ask me how I’m going I say ‘I’m living the dream’,’’ Mitchell said.
“I’ve been lucky in life but that hasn’t been given to me – if you work hard you can get the rewards.’’
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MIRACLE MILE
Michael and Margaret Joyce are passionate Sydney Swans fans and are hoping to erase the disappointment of their side’s recent loss in the AFL premiership decider by winning I Am Me’s “grand final” on Saturday.
They live in Melbourne but fly to Sydney to watch every Swans home game during the AFL season so travel arrangements for The Everest are almost routine for them.
“We are looking forward to going to Sydney for The Everest,’’ Michael Joyce said.
“It is a fantastic family affair because our children and grandchildren follow this horse.’’
The Joyces, who have been married for 48 years, are also avid horse racing enthusiasts.
“Margaret and I have probably had a dozen over the years and that includes harness horses,’’ the Melbourne businessman said.
“We were lucky enough to have a very good harness horse called Chokin.’’
Chokin was a champion pacer who won 34 races including two Miracle Miles in 1993-94 and was inducted into the New Zealand Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
Joyce, 74, said his interest in horse racing was a product of his youth.
“I remember when I was a kid my father used to tune into the radio on a Saturday morning while he read his Sporting Globe newspaper,’’ he said.
“I’ve got some wonderful memories from those years of great horses like Vain and Dulcify.’’
Joyce said he has raced horses previously with Dynamic Syndications and decided to buy into I Am Me when he studied her pedigree.
“She is by I Am Invincible and is so well bred on the dam’s side,’’ he said. “We have had a lot of fun watching her race. For some reason, she is underrated but she never lets us down.’’
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ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Ross Gall’s family history in horse racing spans back to the “Roaring Twenties”, a carefree era between two World Wars.
“Mum’s eldest brother, Tom Brennan, was a jockey going back 100 years ago,’’ he said.
“We used to the listen to the races on the radio when I was a kid- that’s a while ago now.’’
Gall, 74, is retired these days, enjoying life on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
“I only ever had two jobs in my life,’’ he said. “I worked for an insurance company in Brisbane then worked for a family company – and I’ve been retired for 18 years now.
“But I enjoy the racing, always have. I’ve seen some good horses over the years like Kingston Town, he was freakish.’’
Gall, who said he will watch The Everest from the comforts of his Caloundra home, has raced horses with Dynamic Syndications for over a decade now.
“I was in Arbeitsam who ran third in Happy Clapper’s Doncaster (2018),’’ Gall said.
“But I Am Me is well and truly the best horse I’ve had. It’s unbelievable to think she’s in The Everest, this only comes along once in a lifetime.’’
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BART’S CUP
Janette Crooks remembers her first Melbourne Cup like it was yesterday – when Hyperno, trained by the great Bart Cummings, won in 1979.
“Who would have thought all these years later we would get an Everest runner,’’ she said.
Crooks and her husband, Stephen, bought a share in I Am Me when they were housebound during the Covid lockdown in Melbourne.
The couple live in the Melbourne suburb of Ascot Vale, which is a stone’s throw from Flemington racecourse, and were watching the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on television.
“I happened to see Dynamic purchased I Am Me and we had a couple of horses with them,’’ he said
“A lot of the good I Am Invincibles are mares and fillies and on this filly’s dam side, they were all well performed so we decided to buy into her.
“We are regular racegoers, it is a lifelong passion. I’m 72. I got into racing when I was about 12 and to have a share in a horse as good as I Am Me is amazing.’’
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THE CHAMPS
Tony Cranes used to work with Leon Fink, the restaurateur who part-owned the champions Campaign King and Better Loosen Up.
“It was in the late 1980s and it was an exciting time, they were both great horses,’’ Cranes said.
Cranes, 66, who lives 100m from Leichhardt Oval, is an accountant and does the financial work for clients in the hospitality industry.
Nearly four decades after the Campaign King-Better Loosen Up era, Cranes has his own outstanding racehorse – I Am Me.
“I’ve had about 35 horses over the years with Dynamic, there’ve been a few nice winners over the years including Major Artie, Greek Hero and Escaped, but nothing like I Am Me,’’ he said.
“You never think you are going to get as horse as good as her.’’
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THE SYNDICATORS
I Am Me is among 310 individual winners of 348 runners for Dean Watt’s Dynamic Syndications – for an extraordinary strike-rate of 88.8 per cent winners to runners over nearly four decades.
“I’ve won a Cox Plate, Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond, I’ve won an Oaks and Guineas races but there are two races I harbour winning – one is a Derby and the other is The Everest,’’ Watt said.
“I truly believe The Everest is now the number one race on turf and we’ve got a great chance with I Am Me.’’
Dynamic Syndications has been Watt’s labour of love since he formed the company in 1986.
“I’m 62 and I believe I have another 5-7 years left,’’ Watt said. “I’m in succession planning mode.
“My son, Adam, does a lot of the leg work now and I do most of the compliance work.
“But I still love what I do, syndicating racehorses brings people together and it is affordable. I always say you don’t have to have a goldmine or an oil rig in your backyard to compete in this game.’’
Originally published as ‘I never dreamt I would get a horse like I Am Me’: Owners on cloud nine ahead of 2024 The Everest
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