3 Win Boxing Day - Synchronize Superb in Hallmark

Recording his 11^thstakes' win for the season, nine-time Champion Trainer Mark Walker worked his magic with Synchronize (4 m Savabeel - Splits, by O'Reilly) winning the $100,000 Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe.

Impressive winning over 1400 metres in May at Rotorua, Synchronize bled when resuming in August at Taupo, but showed she was back on track when unwinding nicely for second in a trial on 12 December at Avondale.

An absolutely beautiful looking mare, Synchronize has any amount of ability, has won four of eight starts, and now added an invaluable stakes' success.

Settled beyond midfield by Craig Zackey, Synchronize was stifled for room until inside the 200 metres but once clear she put paid to her opponents in a few strides.

“They wanted to see her settled and breathing and I was in a good position,” said Craig Zackey, the former South African Champion Apprentice who recorded his previous stakes' win aboard stable-mate Prise De Fer (Savabeel) in the Eagle Technology Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m).

“I rode her patiently, but once she got through she just exploded.”

On footing upgraded to Good3, Synchronize ran 1200 metres in 1:08.9, last 600m in 33.0, and drifted considerably in betting to pay $10.10 & $3.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“I thought she'd go really well fresh and it's just unfortunate she bled in the spring, but we're on top of that problem now,” Walker said.

“It was a good ride by Craig to hold her up and she showed a great turn of foot. She was a fair way back, but it looked as though they were going a good enough clip.

“She was a beautiful yearling that Dave (Ellis) bought at Karaka, and if we can just keep on top of her problems she's got a lot more in store.

“It's incredible what Savabeel has done for the New Zealand industry, just fantastic, and he's going to be hard to replace.”

Walker said Synchronize would likely return to the course on Karaka Million night (Saturday 21 January) for the $130,000 Brighthill Farm Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m).

Synchronize was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $280,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, and owned by Te Akau Flexibeel Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Ellis also purchased Festivity (5 m I Am Invincible), who won the corresponding race last season as a five-year-old mare.

“She's an exciting horse and to win black type with a Savabeel mare is just a dream come true,” Ellis said.

“As Mark said, she's had an issue but what a tremendous training performance to have her back to her best and win a race like this in the manner that she did.

“It's not an easy race to win, but thank you to Mark & Vicki and Denny and Lynn Baker, they're a champion family and we've been doing business together since 1985 with Hallmark Stud. You would not meet better people involved in New Zealand racing and to win the race you sponsor is a real honour.”

Synchronize is a granddaughter of Joint top filly on the 2005-06 NZ 3YO Free Handicaps Legs (Pins - River Century, by Centaine), who recorded Group One wins in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m),

Although unraced, her dam, Splits (O'Reilly), is a sister to Te Akau trained Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) winner Wolfwhistle.

At stud, grand-dam Legs has left six individual winners of 19 races, including Te Akau trained Scrutinize (Savabeel), an impressive debut winning two-year-old and stakes placed at three. It is also the family of Te Akau trained 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Xtravagant (Pentire), now standing at Newhaven Park, N.S.W. and proving a successful sire in Australia.

Synchronize was strapped by Mallesh Saddari.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz