Platamone Castle claimed the first leg of a dream double for Dynamic Syndications in Heat 5 of the Swettenham Stud Summer Championship at Moonee Valley on New Year’s Eve.

The following day Dynamic sprinter Atomic Force won the G1 Railway Stakes in New Zealand.

Platamone Castle (5g Lonhro – Al Rosolini by Waajib) has improved out of sight since transferring to Caulfield trainer Mick Price.  After winning his maiden at Cranbourne in April, he raced through the grades at Wangaratta, Tatura and Traralgon before breaking through in town.

“He’s a good horse but was mentally immature during his last campaign,” winning jockey Dale Smith said.  “The penny has dropped since he’s come back from a spell and there are some nice races for him in the future.”

Platamone Castle is by Darley champion Lonhro out of Al Rosolini who is a half-sister to the dam of G1 Golden Slipper winner Polar Success (Success Express).

Al Rosolini is a daughter of Try My Best’s Group 2 winner Waajib and the sireline has a number of past and present links with Swettenham.

Try My Best (Northern Dancer) raced for Swettenham founder Robert Sangster and was England’s Champion 2YO in 1977 after an unbeaten campaign culminating with a G1 victory in the Dewhurst Stakes.

Try My Best’s leading sire son has been Last Tycoon but the Waajib branch of the sireline is breaking out in Europe through his grandson Acclamation.  

The service fee for Rathbarry Stud based Acclamation has doubled after a string stunning results in recent years and that’s led to an incredible demand for his yearlings at the Tattersalls, Goffs and Arqana Sales.

Swettenham began shuttling his Group 1 winning son Equiano to Australia in 2011.  He has just returned home after covering a full book at a $15,000 (inc gst) service fee.

Platamone Castle is the fifth winner of the Swettenham Summer Championship which comprises 10 Heats and a $100,000 Final at Betfair Park on January 28. The prize package also includes a trophy and a free service to Equiano.