Equinics 2026 Race 3: Gunsynd Stakes

Queensland is the site of this early Equinics heat, taking place late Saturday afternoon (Eastern Standard Time) and third in the sequence of 24 races to decide this year’s champion. Star-studded is an understatement, as no less than FIVE Group 1 winners will go to post (surpassing the 4 each in Races 1 and 2.) Even the least-credentialed runner looks formidable, so turf racing fans are in for a treat in this event honoring the 1972 Australian Horse of the Year, Gunsynd.

The “Goondiwindi Grey” was a $1300 auction purchase by a small syndicate put together by a fellow named Wicks McMicking. Already how could you not love this story? Besides winning 7 straight races prior to his Cox Plate triumph, he was reportedly quite the character and fan favorite, with attention seeking antics and songs written in his honor. He retired to stud with a ridiculous 29 wins from 54 starts, and despite a lackluster stud career remains as popular as ever. I enjoyed watching videos of his races and hope we all can somedaydevelop our own Simulated versions of this rags-to-riches wonder.

The entries closed with no last-second nominations, so we will go to post with 13 runners, meaning only 4 recognized residencies are abstaining. A strong collection of mostly seasoned veteran males will navigate the 10 furlongs (2000m) over a turf course labeled “good”. In lieu of odds and handicapping, we will simply consult my secret analog version of AI to provide predictions for the outcomes. And now, let’s get the (eight) ball rolling.

ELITE RACING CLUB

The horse with the least experience as well as the only runner not yet earning blacktype is DUNNVILLEDOWNS trained ECHO HAWK. The 4yo Bivouac(Aus) gelding has been successful at the 2000m test, following his 95 SP maiden score with an immeadiate 100 SP score, whilst skipping a lifetime allowance condition (sneaky move!) Always finishing top 4 since his sophomore campaign, he’s yet to show he’s ready for elite company but has been workmanlike with speed figures edging towards the 110’s – including a 107 SP in his latest victory going 2100m. A reason to be bullish on his Equinics chances is that he is 12th foal of now pensioned G1 winner HAWKE’S BAY (Montjeu x Danzig), who won G1 turf races at 10, 11, and 12f. Bivouac is known a sprint sire, but has produced a long-distance performers like LUCKY VAN (G1 11f) to match with the best HAWKE’S BAY offspring to date – the Australia gelding NGUARURORO (G2 12f.) This is his stakes debut and his wet track debut, so there’s not much to go on other than genes and positive vibes.

Gold medal outlook: Outlook not so good. Podium placement: Don’t count on it.

ORPHANS

Here right away is the post-time favorite and first of 5 Grade 1 millionares in the field, the ADRIAN pledge FRONTE DI GUERRA. 5yo War Front horse out of Dynaformer x Awesome Again mare VIVE RIRE AIMER spent a good portion of his career as a moderately successful dirt performer, twice hitting 116 SP while winning three listed stakes around 2200m. At first glance that may seem an odd choice pedigree wise, but his dam absolutely despised the grass as a runner (unplaced in three starts) while earning nearly half a million in dirt distaffs. Half-siblings by Arrogate and Quality Road also showed a similar penchant for the brown stuff, with the former (SHADYLERKER) clocking a ridiculous 124 SP in a 9f listed stakes LOSS, no less. So we must excuse Adrian’s delay in trying this one on the lawn until he ran consecutive 4ths in listed company. Dropped to a 9.5f allowance race in October last year, he exploded for a 7+ length victory and a 115 SP figure that announced “I’m never going back.” Three consecutive wins culminated in a dominating 117 SP performance in the G1 Manha Manha, a strong field that included a couple of today’s foes. His only setback came last out while attemption 2200m at the G1 level, where his closing kick was less effective, despite earning the show. His lone off track effort was on the dirt at 2, so that does little to curb my enthusiasm for his chances today.

Gold medal outlook: Signs point to yes. Podium placement: It is decidedly so.

UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB

FERNANDO comes to town towing excellent French-bred phenom QUERELLE BREST, a 5yo son of Le Havre(IRE) and PERTH SLEWSTAR(Australia x Sea The Stars), winner of the 2022 G1 Maybe Johnny Handicap at 9f (incidentally defeating that race’s 2021 winner from the Beisbol barn, NOT VERY OFTEN.) In 26 lifetime starts he has placed in a whopping 8 Graded turf events, from 8 to 10f, and stole front-running wins in listed stakes at 10 and 10.5f. The breakthrough finally came last out, equaling his lifetime best 115 SP in a good looking stalk and score rally in the G2 Edward’s Kingdom at 9f. Was it the cutback to 1800m that put him over the top, or simply a change of tactics from his usual pace-pressing agenda? A similar effort today would put him in the expectedly crowded photo at the wire. He’s 1 for 1 on wet turf tracks, taking down a 7 panel allowance race as a 2yo.

Gold medal outlook: Ask again later. Podium placement: Outlook good.

NORTHWEST RACING CIRCUIT (NWRC)

The grizzled veteran of this veteran bunch is the 6yo gelding that has been around the world and back again – it’s the UNREAL barn magic horse SKY SORCERER. With more 110 SP or more performances than I care to count, the Savabeel(Aus) son of SKY WITCH (Galileo x Kingmabo) keeps getting dropped in for a tag, winning, then re-emerging as a stakes performer despite the spectre of wear-and-tear or Father Time adding virtual sandbags to his saddle. He’s been at it since 2022! In one particularly stunning stretch of 2025, a poor effort in a wet track allowance allowed him to slip through a 100k claimer for NZ breds unscathed, earning a solid 111 SP. Wheeled back at the same track and price but unrestricted, a 108 SP (3rd) still didn’t attract attention for his next start, a crushing 11 length score and a 115 SP at 11 furlongs (150k claimer.) The Form Cycle Gods were clearly smiling on him, and when astutely jumped up in class he delivered another victory in the G3 Cup of Europe (10f, like today.) Five times since he has run for a tag, for as little as $15,000, yet he wins and no one takes him. Two straight 9 length victories in NZ prompted another run at glory, and he did not disappoint with a very good 4th in the G1 Man of War Stakes. That was start number 43! This veritable LeBron James of the Lawn is an inspirational success story. What a pleasant swan song it would be to earn a piece of the prize today. Wet track record 4-0-1-0 but was a close 4th in the G1 Eclipse at this distance.

Gold medal outlook: Very doubtful. Podium placement: Reply hazy, try again.

FLORIDA RACING CLUB

One of the capable entrants with a little bit longer distance profile is the ATTHEWIRE acquisition THE WICKED SHIP. Primarily operating in the comfortable confines of the 11f to 14f turf circuit, the 6yo two-time stakes winner by Japanese stud Rulership hails from the vast Given broodmare tree (mom is THE WICKED BEAUTY, a Tapit x Galileo homebred.) It took 13 tries for the gelding to win his third race, and in start 15 won his first (and only) claiming race of his career. The real winner was atw10 who immediately set him on the path to local stardom, eventually taking down an 11 furlong Japan bred affair late in his 5yo campaign. He who laughs last laughs best, and despite 33 lifetime starts this guy is laughing all the way to the simulated bank, scoring a couple hundred bands with his 11 furlong G1 Einstein victory on June 6th. If you just looked at this horse’s first 30 starts, you’d dismiss him as a marginal player. But his last 3 races (2nd, 2nd with a 115 SP, win) at this same distance profile warn of something wicked coming this way. Two sub-par wet turf efforts are the only blemish on his online profile. Swipe left at your peril!

Gold medal outlook: Better not tell you now. Podium placement: Yes definitely.

EAST-WEST CONNECTION

The second G1 winner is this stunning late bloomer of a Japanese star named SAYING ALL (Epiphanea x Deep Impact x Street Cry.) Trainer CORZA put him through the usual paces with 6 maiden tries as a 2yo, finally winning on the stretch out to 9f as a new 3yo. A G3 win at 10 furlongs soon followed, but when stepped up to G1 company the reception was anything but warm. The only stakes-winning offspring of his dam JUST SAYING’s 11 foals, he steadily improved from three to four but had no victories to show for the next 12 starts. That all changed with a good third in the G3 Challenge Cup parlayed into a satisfying win in the Victoria G1 Mighty Stakes (10 furlongs, defeating next-out G1 winner TRICKTRIP) and a lifetime best 114 SP. Since then he’s run six times in G1 company, compiling a record of 1 win and a 3rd in those efforts (man does he like Victoria – he the G1 Sydney Cup there as well!) His mid-pack closing rally is ideal for this type of race, but his wet track record leaves something to be desired (unplaced in two goes on the goo.) Alls I am saying is that SAYING ALL is all that, and that’s all I have to say about that.

Gold medal outlook: Cannot predict now. Podium placement: Concentrate and ask again.

European Union Racing Organization (EURO)

DANIEL is here representing EURO and brings with him a horse that is really coming into his own as a 5yo. Not a surprise if you follow European racing and any of our Swedish friends’ successes in these types of conditions. The twist in the case of BAMPA THE VILLAIN is that the intact son of Lope De Vega and G2 winner SILI CADET (Dansili x El Prado) is not a Daniel homebred, but astutely haltered out of a Maiden Claiming 40,000 race in February 2024. Daniel took his time developing him in Starter races, then when unleashed on an unsuspecting Allowance N1x he uncorked a 115 SP, winning by the length of the Colorado stretch. He quickly won a listed stake but further success eluded him until turning 5 – a distinct pattern we are seeing in these 10 to 12 furlong turf performers at this level. If you live and die with recency bias then this is your horse, as the last three starts read 115 SP, G3 victory – 110 SP, G1 3rd – 113 SP, G3 victory. And oh, he’s fast too, rarely losing when he has the lead entering the stretch. So you’ve got to beat him out of the gate, or beat him to the quarter pole to diffuse the Villain arc. 2 wins in 3 starts on wet grass, so we are not worried about the surface slowing his chances.

Gold medal outlook: Outlook good. Podium placement: As I see it, yes.

DOWN UNDER RACING (DUR)

This race just keeps getting tougher… no filler all killer. But there are enigmas. DUR’S representative from the FDLLODGE20 barn has never won a stakes race, but he’s never run a bad race at 10 furlongs, either. In that sense, GOLDEN NAY WONDER is exactly that, an electric embodiment of the “what if?” mentality. I’ll show you what I mean. The 5yo gelding has pedigree – New Approach(IRE) o/o NAYNOVEMBERWONDER (No Nay Never x Seeking the Gold). He has experience and success – 27 starts and over $400k in earnings. He has tactical speed and recent strong perfomances, notably a 114 SP when second to favored FRONTE DI GUERRA in the G1 Manha Manha. He has a victory on wet turf, and it was a good one – 113 SP in an Allowance N2L, if you can picture that. Glass more than half full. What he DOESN’T have? A win in 2026. Keep going… nor does he have a win in 2025. Thats 13 straight losses dating back to… a 113 SP victory in an Allowance N2L. Didn’t I just read that? You don’t want to like him but you know he’s also capable of one of those right place / right time upsets. And after experimenting with longer and shorter, he’s back in his 2000m sweet spot today.

I wonder…

Gold medal outlook: My reply is no. Podium placement: Most likely.

MIDAS

MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW is only 4yo with 19 starts to his name, but is as accomplished as any in the field. The Curlin x Kingmambo x Street Cry scratchbred acquired all of his three Graded Stakes victories at the 2000m dial setting, most prominent being a 116 SP in the G1 Spring Fling for 3yos in New South Wales. Yes, three year old success does not always translate to 4 year old form, and while the DIXIEDOTCO colt had trouble breaking through versus older horses, a race record of 6-0-1-2-2 in exclusively G1 company (10f turf) is far from a downturn. It took but a simple drop in class to the G3 level last out for MiM to regain his winning ways. When you process it through that lens, the horse hits the board in every single G1 and is unbeatable at any other class level. His career is a training masterclass from one of the game’s all-time greats – 32% win rate with a substable tallying 1,000 wins, for instance – and the expectation is for more of the same. No lifetime starts on an off track… should it matter?

Gold medal outlook: Without a doubt. Podium placement: You may rely on it.

LATINOS DEL MUNDO

The always competitive HAACK barn sends out the brilliant double G1 winner and race earnings leader ORO EN POLVO, a scratch bred horse by Justify x Seeking The Gold x Nijinsky II. His career path seems like the blueprint for success, considering how many other foes in the field had a similar progression to stardom. Seven starts to break maiden, 13 starts until a second victory. But once he got rolling there was no slowing him down – 4 wins in 5 starts as a young 4yo led to an attempt at a G1 5th in the Champion Stakes, perhaps the toughest field I have inspected during this preview. The winner ran a 122 SP and there were ELEVEN current or future G1 winners out of 12 entrants. It’s prophetic in retrospect, as ORO EN POLVO’S glimmer of gold dust turned into the mother lode, winning next out in the 10f G1 Mighty Stakes (2024 version.) In a seven-horse field he made up a shocking 17 1/4 lengths, and 13 from the stretch to the wire in a neck victory over G1 speedball NEPTUNE PARK. A repeat performance came in the G1 Mr. Met Cap, this time with 13 total G1 winners in the gate. His fortunes have dimmed a bit since that three race strech with a 2nd in a 12f G1 thrown in for good measure, but his 6yo campaign to ramp up for today he’s reeled off two consecutive listed wins of 115 SP each, and even dusted off his last to first catapult in the Latinos Del Mundo qualifier at today’s distance. I have no doubt he will put on a great show; its just a question of how far back is too far back to get to the wire first? 3-1-1-1 on wet, including an excellent 116 SP vs. Kentucky breds at 2000m.

Gold medal outlook: No es posible predecirlo ahora. Podium placement: Es cierto.

British and European Racing Club

Trainer COTHILL runs a relatively compact operation of no more than 70 horses in the master stable, but that hasn’t been a hindrance to developing good horses like LOPE IMPACT BED. The Lope De Vega gelding, he-mared from homebred Deep Impact x Nureyev and 16f G1 marathoner LOW IMPACT BED, has shown talent and versatility throughout his 29 race (and counting) career. A 2yo debut winner at 6.5 furlongs, he next won at 7.5f and scored his first stakes success in the 11f G3 The Oppenheimer Reunion for 3yo. He may have been a little tired after that sophomore campaign and 13 lifetime starts, but was a consistent if not quite winning allowance competitor in his four year old season. Shortening back to 10 furlongs as a 5yo may have injected some speed into his stride, as he broke through the “four life” barrier two starts back, earning a solid 110 SP when given an extra 100m to grind at the leaders. A midpack 107 SP last out is not going to be enough to be a factor with this bunch, so the extra impact will have to come from some other unknown factors. 2-0-1-0 wet turf record, but both were excellent efforts at 8.5f and 12f, neither his distance of preference.

Gold medal outlook: Very doubtful. Podium placement: Outlook not so good.

EMPIRE STATE RACING

ACE may be “the place with the helpful hardware folks”, but its also the masterstable with the “IDK” horses, representing ESR here with IDK WAR ON PUTIN. And let me tell you, IDK (I DO know) from experience that Ace certainly does know more than a thing or two about long distance turf horses, having bred and trained the immortal PLATINUM WIPE CLUB, the hall of fame Deep Impact champion mare with six Grade 1 victories and $11.9 million in earnings. Nicely named 6yo Declaration of War gelding we’ll call IDKWOP looks like he’ll run over wherever you lead him, having wins at 6.5f (turf), 10f (turf 4 times), 10.5f (turf), 9f (dirt), and 10f (dirt). He’s very fond of that low 2000m range, as evidenced by consecutive victories in the G2 Kakarazuka Cup and G1 Judgemonte International (115 SP.) I think he caught a crummy ride from now retired jock D Sheridan when 6th in the wet turf G1 Eclipse (SKY SORCERER 4th), but has rebounded nicely enough with a 6yo debut win in JPN restricted company, and a good 2nd in the G1 Aussie Queen in April. Was the lackluster last out G1 at 11f another bad ride (too close to the pace), a rust-busting prep for this Equinics try (had been off 3 months), or evidence of the creeping hand of Chronos? Any or all of those are plausible explanations for a possible rebound and victory lap today. Wet turf 3-1-1-0 gives more mixed signals. I really DON’T know!

Gold medal outlook: Ask again later. Podium placement: Reply hazy, try again.

THE MECCA

Outside lucky 13 post is certainly not the disadvantage OAKRIDGE asked for when pointing his excellent NIGHT’S CAVALRY to this, the 6yo geldings first ever G1 attempt. That may seem a daunting task in an event as hotly contested as the Equinics, and this exceptionally deep field doesn’t help either – but the Dubawi son of hemared NOTORIUS RAKE (Galileo x Giant’s Causeway) has one of the most exciting past performance stories I have seen in quite some time. NOTORIOS RAKE was a SUPER stables homebred, perhaps originally trained by legendary SIM personality Dr. Dipper Lip, aka the beloved trainer Whirlwind, who passed on in early 2020. The gap in his race record does reflect some time off for over a year until 2021, and was later retired after only 15 starts and bred to Dubawi from the super3 substables. The 2yo foal debuted in 2022 for fairhavenhot – that’s a LENNY271 substable, yet another legend from Derbyfever lore. He ran “ok, not great” at two and three, winning three of eleven starts overall, then turns up in a GOWANS substable, minus his pixelated genitalia. The trainer change and the equipment change didn’t wake him up as much as a drop to claiming races did, and the talented eunuch won 5 of 11 high-level claiming races (several 114 SP in there at our favorite distance) before switching hands again, presumably claimed for $40,000. This new trainer entered our guy in a 16 furlong allowance race, where he was promptly thrashed (4th of 4, 89 SP) and banished to the auction. In comes OAKRIDGE to the rescue, acquiring the 6yo with 24 starts for a paltry sum. I know this only because he’s raced twice since, and his MinClmTag is a bargain-basement $6,000. NIGHT’S CAVALRY clearly loves his new connections and comes to his own rescue, charging to a dominant 5+ length victory in a Starter Allowance race (112 SP.) Having regained the form he used to abuse better claiming horses as a 5yo, OAKRIDGE opted not to find another Starter race or lifetime allowance (he had won 3 of them), but instead entered the G2 Kakarazuka Tinen Cup – the same race that IDK WAR ON PUTIN won the year before. In his first stakes race of any kind, as a 6 year old on his 5th trainer, he made it look as easy as a midnight hot race with a dominant, going away 116 SP victory, a lifetime best. Playing with house money, it’s all gravy, all the cliches apply when everything works out better than I imagine anyone dreamed when picking up a horse like this. Despite another jump in class, I’m not getting off this hot horse now, no how, no way. Wet turf, undefeated 1 for 1, of course!

Gold medal outlook: Yes. Podium placement: Yes.

Good luck to all entrants and thank you for reading. Author not responsible for lost or stolen medals.