Scone, Albury previews: Trainer Jason Deamer set for Dynamic day

As Dynamic Syndications boss Dean Watt considers a possible international sprint campaign for brilliant mare I Am Me, his more immediate focus is at racing’s grassroots with the Scone meeting on Thursday.

I Am Me (red cap) wins The Shorts at Randwick last September. PIcture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

As Dynamic Syndications boss Dean Watt considers a possible international sprint campaign for brilliant mare I Am Me, his more immediate focus is at racing’s grassroots with the Scone meeting on Thursday.

The picturesque Hunter Valley racetrack hosts the Gosford Race Club’s provincial meeting where Dynamic has four starters, all trained by Jason Deamer, including Jack Duggan and Think We’re There who clash in the Kia Ora Benchmark 64 Handicap (2200m).

But in the very near future, Watt could be trackside at famous racecourses like Flemington, Dubai’s Meydan and England’s Royal Ascot where I Am Me might be racing against the world’s best sprinters.

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I Am Me, who has won 11 of her 25 starts and more than $4.4 million, is chasing a breakthrough Group 1 win in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15.

“She has been set for the Lightning Stakes since going out for a spell last spring,’’ Watt said of I Am Me, who won the Concorde Stakes and The Shorts when last in work.

“The trip suits here, the weight-for-age scale suits, and we went to Melbourne because we have a better chance of getting a dry track than anywhere else.

“We feel she has improved again off her spring campaign, she’s better now than she has ever been.

“If she runs well in the Lightning, then we could look at overseas at Dubai and Royal Ascot, but there is also The Quokka in Perth.’’

The G2 Shorts at Randwick goes to I Am Me, who puts her name forward for an Everest slot! 🙌@mcacajamez | @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/nw1CGrTI0u

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 21, 2024

Watt opened Dynamic’s doors nearly 20 years ago and his now-familiar racing colours of white, Dynamic logo and red cap have been worn in 912 race wins.

At Scone on Thursday, that number can move closer to the magical 1000-win barrier with little separating Jack Duggan and Think We’re There.

In early TAB Fixed Odds betting, Jack Duggan is at $12 and Think We’re There is at $15 behind Akkadian Emperor at $1.85 but this market is going to be overhauled with the favourite expected to be withdrawn after having raced at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

“They both may run Thursday,’’ said Adam Watt, who works at Dynamic alongside his father, Dean.

“Jack Duggan was super on the ‘Kenso’ two starts back but he is the sort of horse that needs everything to go his way which wasn’t the case for him at Canterbury the other day.

“Hopefully he can position a little closer than he did at Canterbury and he should run very well.’’

The greys battled it out and Jack Duggan prevails!@clarkyhk with a nice steer for Jason Deamer and @Dynamic_WONIT. pic.twitter.com/RI376z6Ixo

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2022

Adam Watt is convinced the consistent Think We’re There is also going to be very competitive.

“Think We’re There deserved his Newcastle win last start and probably should have won the Super Maiden at Canterbury the start prior when he got flushed out on the corner and had to sustain a long run,’’ he said.

“He has been a model of consistency this preparation and that win at Newcastle will give him the confidence he needs.

“His mother is by Danehill Dancer out of a half-sister to Sunline so he is a very well-bred horse, too.’’

With Dynamic mare Altercation racing at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, the syndicators are relying on Drums Of War in the Inglis Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).

“Drums Of War is a horse that needs a good 4 track,’’ Adam Watt said.

“The track at Newcastle (soft 6) last start had a bit of give in it and he just doesn’t let down in those conditions.’’

Watt is also optimistic three-year-old filly Rose Water can sprint well fresh in the Pryde’s Easifeed Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).

🌹 The fav Rose Water is too good for them at Quirindi, and she wins her first start! pic.twitter.com/3fXtzLC9Ha

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 28, 2024

“We really like Rose Water,’’ Watt said. “The reason she is back in this time of year is because we think she is above average.

“She is also well bred. Her sire, Calyx, is doing an amazing job overseas, and she is a daughter of Aqua D’Amore.

“She didn’t surprise us when she won the way she did at Quirindi on debut but she is also a horse that needs a dry track.

“Her run at Wyong before she was spelled was also excellent under the circumstances where she got caught deep and had to come via the car park but still rounded her work off very well. We are looking for a good run from her at Scone.’’

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

COOEE, the aptly-named son of Group 1-winning sprinter Holler, can command a campaign aimed at the $1 million Country Championships if he wins on his home track at Albury on Thursday.

Trainer Ron Stubbs is giving Cooee the biggest test of his short race career so far in the Hutchinson Civil Benchmark 66 Handicap (1175m).

For rising seven-year-old Cooee, Thursday’s race will be only the fourth start of his career which began last season with successive Albury wins.

The impressive Cooee gets the chocolates in the Albury opener! @RonStubbs4pic.twitter.com/Q78pmVki6S

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 20, 2024

Cooee then went for a long spell before resuming at Wagga Wagga over 1200m where he shouldered 62kg and led for most of the race before a close third to Just Google Me.

But the Stubbs-trained sprinter drops 3kg and has drawn the rails barrier which has prompted TAB Fixed Odds price assessors to rank him at the top of betting at $4.20 ahead of Miss Emma at $5.50.

Jockey Jason Lyon retains the ride on Cooee and will also combine with the Stubbs stable and smart mare Brial Rose in the Class 2 Handicap (1000m).

Brial Rose hasn’t raced since September when she ran fourth to Hellbetta at Leeton but did bolt in when resuming in a Super Maiden at Narrandera last winter, scoring by more than four lengths.

She then went to Gundagai and scored again but that track, like Narrandera, was in the heavy range.

Brial Rose dominates Race 4 at Gundagai! 💪@RonStubbs4pic.twitter.com/rpJtjYshca

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 6, 2024

Although Brial Rose is yet to win on a good track, the mare is the $3.40 favourite with the in-form Helluva Teen pressing at $3.90.

Stubbs is also saddling up Soon To Bloom ($14) and Madame Doesfly ($26) in the Glenn Chapman Maiden (1175m) and Rising Water ($34) in the Naughtin Development Group Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).

Originally published as Scone, Albury previews: Trainer Jason Deamer set for Dynamic day