Dynamic Syndications ended up with a familiar face on Colin Stephen Quality winner Piggyback for Saturday’s Metropolitan, but not before a worldwide search for a jockey.
The quality staying mare only has 50kg in Sydney’s spring staying highlight, which counted out her winning rider Tim Clark from the Colin Stephen.
“We actually rang Andrea Atzeni in Hong Kong to see if he could come out,” Dynamic’s Adam Watt said.
“He has won a Sydney Cup for Ciaron [Maher], but he couldn’t make the 50kg.”
“We were able to get Andrew Adkins, who can ride her at the right weight and has some experience on her.”
“He actually rode Piggyback in her first barrier trial and told us that day, she was a nice horse but would need time and ground.”
“It seems right that she gets to 2400m in a Group 1 and Andrew is there to ride her.”
Piggyback was into $12 for the Metropolitan after she was too strong late and outstayed stablemate Juja Kibo at Rosehill on Saturday.
“We will see how she is, but she has had the preparation to back up,” Mahar said after the race.
“She has had a really good grounding and a gap between runs, so if we did want to back up it would work.”
The Metropolitan is set to have a big spread of weights with Vauban the likely top weight at 58.5kg and Arapaho on 58kg. The $4.50 favourite Birdman, who just held off Adelaide River in the Kingston Town Stakes, only on 51.5kg with Kerrin McEvoy to ride again.
It’s a stable quinella for @cmaherracing 🔥🔥
Not the result most people thought with Piggyback hugging the rails and knocking off the hot pot Juja Kibo 🏇@clarkyhk with a patient ride to get the dividends in the Asahi Super Dry Colin Stephen Quality pic.twitter.com/w0FxLqXGfT
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) September 27, 2025
