Dynamic Syndications mighty steed DREAM CHOICE recorded his 9th Win and took his earnings to $396,835 when giving the leader a head start and a beating to claim Race 2 on the Doomben programme, the Open 1200m Handicap being steered by the star of the day – ageless hoop Jeff Lloyd.

However it wasn’t “all beer and skittles” as DREAM CHOICE had to win the race - twice ! Firstly, on the track and Secondly in the Stewards Room, after what could only be described as an inexplicable protest was fired in by the defeated rider on the runner-up in a desperate attempt to overturn the result.  

During the race, Dream Choice jumped quickly and put speed into the event, knowing that the main danger Upstart Pride couldn’t help itself and would spear across and try to lead. 

Jeff Lloyd out thought his peers and kicked up to make that horse work harder when attempting to cross and the early workload told on that horse in the concluding stages.

Dream Choice was restrained after the first furlong, finding the slip stream, one back the fence in fourth spot.

ust before the 300m, Jeff Lloyd peeled Dream Choice off and around that leader Upstart Pride. 

Conceding over 2 lengths at that point, Dream Choice rallied and easily reeled in the leader, going past him to score by a widening half neck on the line. Choice Bro finished strongly to grab third sport, a further 2-1/2 lengths away. 

Immediately after the race, trainer Rob Heathcote was interviewed and said:

“I was confident Dream Choice would prevail despite failing in the Group 3 Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm last month. 

“I wasn’t disappointed with his Healy run and I was confident he’d run a much better race today,” 

"He was only beaten a neck out of third and he was back on a dry track. It is the first on a genuine dry track in about 10 weeks," he said. 

“Getting back on a good track was the key.” 

To the winning connections surprise, the controversial whip rules were again highlighted when a protest from second-placed hoop Jim Byrne against Jeff Lloyd for Byrne believing Lloyd hit Dream Choice too often in the Doomben straight.

Dream Choice ($4.80) ran past Byrne on Upstart Pride ($4.60) in the last 50 metres to score by half a neck.

Byrne fired in a protest alleging Lloyd had hit his mount three times more than permitted.

He said it was clear Dream Choice (Lloyd) was two lengths behind him when he used the whip for the first time and still 1-1/2 lengths behind when he overused it.

Byrne said Lloyd continued to then use the whip and didn't catch him until the last bit.

"The breach enabled him to get that close to catch me," Byrne said.

Jeff Lloyd said even if he did breach the whip rule it had not changed the result.

"I had softened him up early (Upstart Prince) by making him cross me and I knew he would be weak late in the race. The whip made no difference," Lloyd said.

Stewards asked Dream Choice's trainer Robert Heathcote if he had anything to add to the defence.

Robert came up with a classic quote that sums up the feelings of most industry participants and punters alike. Heathcote described Australia's whip rules as farcical during the Doomben protest against Dream Choice.

Rob quipped: "We haven't got long enough to discuss what I think of this farcical whip rule. If you uphold that I will take up greyhound training in NSW."

Stewards obviously agreed the protest had no hope, as they quickly threw out the protest and declared correct weight.

Chief steward Allan Reardon said: "We do not believe the whip had any impact on the result."

Heathcote said he had been expecting an improved run from Dream Choice, who had been beaten six lengths in the Group 3 Healy Stakes at his previous start.

Dream Choice, previously trained in Sydney by Gai Waterhouse, was sent to Rob after the handicapping system made it almost impossible for the horse in Sydney.

It has proved a masterstroke as he has now won two of his six starts for Rob Heathcote.

As a result of the win, veteran jockey Jeff Lloyd has shortened to long odds-on favouritism to win his first Brisbane metropolitan premiership after riding four winners at Doomben.

Jeff Lloyd, 55, went into the day on 67 winners, one ahead of Jim Orman and 1-1/2 in front of Jim Byrne and ended it five clear on 71 after his rivals failed to fire.

Apart from the win on Dream Choice ($4.80), he turned up the heat when he also won on Snow Fields ($8), Dame Destiny ($3.80) and Angel Dancer ($9).
Bookmakers reacted immediately, slashing his price from $2.10 to $1.20 to take the title with Orman on $6 and Byrne on $7.

Lloyd has ridden more than 5000 winners in nine countries but his career looked over when he suffered a stroke at Caloundra races in March, 2013.

He was out of the saddle for a year but has ridden more than 200 winners since his return including 105 this season and seven stakes winners.

"I am like the young blokes. I just like riding more and more winners," Lloyd said.

It was the second time this season Lloyd had ridden four metropolitan winners in a day. He also achieved the feat at Doomben in October last year.

"The premiership race isn't over yet and there is a while to go until the end of the month," Lloyd said.

It wasn't all roses for Lloyd who was fined $300 for overuse of the whip on Dream Choice.

Race 2 – Hog’s We’d Love To Meat You Hcp – Open 1200m Good 4 

Time 1:09.77, Last 600m 34.48 secs.

Margin: Short Neck x 2.5 lengths First Prize $40,200.

Prices: Dream Choice $4.80, Upstart Pride $4.60, Choice Bro $11.00.

Dream Choice was the best backed runner $6.50 into $4.80 and was into even shorter than the $4.80 at one stage.

The favourite Divine Service went up short and that price was taken but he got out and was never a hope in the race.

DREAM CHOICE (Redoute’s Choice x Patou) took his career record to:

48 Starts: 9 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds and $396,835.

Congratulations to our DYNAMIC TEAM that race DREAM CHOICE:

Dynamic Syndications Dream Choice Racing Synd (Mr D W Watt (Mgr), Mr I Hannant, Mr M Bender, Mr B Violentis), Mrs T Georgiou, Mr G Harvey, Mr P M Bonilla, Mr J Yianni, Mr J R Carter, Mr G G Gobby, Mr J P Keeley, Mr K Syrros.

The win was Dynamic Syndications 32nd for the Racing Season and Win number 461 on our resume.