Time To Face The Climb

In racing, timing is crucial in the pursuit of success.

Trackwork is run to the beat of the stopwatch and every ounce of energy driven into the racing machine seeks that second faster; or at least the second faster than an opponent.

Thus there is a sense of timing about the preparation of Denmagic, the unfortunate bridesmaid of Pfieffer’s arsenal that has recorded just two wins from eighteen starts, but an incredible prize money haul of over $350,000. And it isn’t just because the mare often boasts the quickest sectionals when racing fresh; something the form aficionados salivate over at the end of a sore punting week.

For Pfieffer, Denmagic’s career has been plagued by an inevitable level of questioning as to what could have been - a near miss in her first stakes race at Rosehill; where an animated Christian Reith spat a choice selection of words at anyone near enough to the hoop as he dismounted; to an agonisingly close final split in the G1 Myer at Flemington on Australia’s great racing stage during Spring gave the team a taste for the potential glory made possible by their modest bay mare.

But 'Denny" is back with a vengeance it seems, trialling superbly at Warwick Farm under the stranglehold of Brenton Avdulla and true to form, burning the turf in trackwork to give Pfieffer the confidence to take on Sydney’s current crop of mid-range sprinting talent over 1000m, first-up, in the CH-X Sprint.

“I had her entered in the Breeder’s (Classic), a group 2 for mares and a common launching point for the older mares heading towards the Autumn Carnival riches; like the Queen of the Turf and the Coolmore” said Pfieffer.

“But I was mindful of her long term target, and having had just the one trial, didn’t want a big run against a competitive group over the 1200m at her first run this time in”.

Joining Denmagic at headquarters is Chestnut Road, the gentleman of the stable who has formed a profitable relationship with the Randwick circuit, having placed there eight times in twelve runs.

“He loves Randwick and a good track, so with the light weight of Clark to carry and a better barrier I’d be expecting him to run well again” commented the trainer.

This week of racing has been astounding to say the least, with Racing NSW’s ambitious announcement of the creation of a $10 Million sprint race labelled as the “Everest”, that as Peter V’landys assures, “is the highest peak in Australian racing”. It’s a bold bid to lure the spotlight from their arch rivals in Melbourne and wasn’t placed on Caulfield Guineas day by chance.

North of the Equator, and the Yanks made headlines with their “run for cash” in the shape of a Pegasus, where racing fans were treated to a sterling rivalry of the two highest rated horses in Arrogate and California Chrome, the latter set for retirement after the inaugural running of the World Cup held at Gulfstream Park in Florida. The race turned into a procession for the world number 1, with Arrogate trouncing his rivals and Chrome, reportedly injured, labouring in midfield.

The Racing NSW team have grabbed the number one spot for prize money in Australia with the Everest, and the highest paying turf race in the world, bettered only on dirt by the Pegasus’ pouch and the Dubai World Cup held at Meydan. But like the lavish goblet made of gold that sits perched in an oasis surrounded by sand in the Sheik’s playground, the Everest openly caters to the elite and has 150 years of Melbourne’s Spring history to catch up on.

Andrew Eddy said it best, “as with class, tradition is impossible to fund”. Racing needs the Denmagic’s, and the Chestnut Road’s that keep coming back each preparation without the need for global racing’s validation, chasing more moderate riches and taking smaller steps at a time as a young trainer searches for his first Group 1 success this Autumn.