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News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Freedmans target fast start at Rosehill as stable expansion imminent
Richard and Will Freedman have set themselves some ambitious targets for the new racing season and they are looking to get off to a fast start at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The father/son training operation has been through and continues to make changes to the business with Richard, in his words, having 'loosened the reins'. Richard has moved to the family property at Broke, 25km south of Singleton, while Will manages the day-to-day running of the Rosehill stable which set a new benchmark in the recently concluded season. 'We trained over 50 winners in the season that is concluding,' Richard said. 'We've only got 40 boxes and I've always had the rule of thumb that if you're training a winner per box, you're going all right. 'We've outperformed that and with the horses we've had in those boxes, I think it's been a terrific effort. Will, 32, moved back to Sydney to join forces with his Group 1 -winning father towards the end of the 2021/22 season and he's now moved into the driver's seat at their Rosehill base. 'Will has been the driving force of the stable throughout the season that has just ended,' Richard said. 'He's the one making the day-to-day decisions. 'He writes the work list, I used to write the work list but he does now. 'I'm the consigliere. I get consulted on decision, I get my input and doing all the work away from the stable on the farm. 'As a father I'm pretty happy with the way he's going.' • NSW racing in the hands of the weather gods While Will manages the day-to-day operation of the Rosehill barn of Freedman Training, Richard is overseeing the development of his Hunter property which they hope will continue its transformation into a fully operational training centre in the next 12 months. 'We're at Broke, the next town to Pokolbin. We're surrounded by wineries,' Richard said. 'Right now we spell and pre-train at the farm but next year's we're looking to train a few horses off the property as well. 'As we speak, we are putting in an 1800 metre track at the farm. The grass track will be 25 metres wide. 'We're looking forward to adding the farm as a training base because we think that will help us up the results again.' On Saturday, the Freedmans have four runners and they kick off their 2025/26 season with the back-to-back provincial winner Cold Brew in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m). • S chiller gets green light for early spring return 'Everyone knows it's not easy winning your next start after winning a maiden and he's a bit of a slow learner so in some ways there was as much merit about his second win as there was when he trounced them at Hawkesbury,' Will Freedman said. 'I don't have a concern about the likelihood of a wet track for him, I think he'll handle it and the form around him is OK. 'He deserves his chance in a Saturday race in the city.' Next to go will be Rolling Magic, a Midway winner two starts back before being a victim of race tempo last start. The son of Per Incanto (USA) runs in the Jockeys Celebration Day Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m). ðŸ°' A magical two on the trot for Rolling Magic as he wins at @hawkesburyrc! @ZacLloydx | @R1CHARDFREEDMAN | @willfreedman — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 10, 2024 'His closing sectionals last start were very strong,' Will said. 'He ran home in 33.4 or something and he couldn't have gone any better. 'The way the race played out he was in an unwinnable position getting back from the draw. 'Drawn much better this time, I'd expect him to position much closer and he'll turn his form around in terms of his finishing position. 'The wet is a bit of an unknown but he's a fit horse that is going well.' • It's hoped that one of the stable's spring big guns will be Elettrica and the mare resumes on Saturday in the NSW Jockeys Association Benchmark 94 Handicap (1300m). 'She's going really well but she's not a first-up horse,' Will said. 'She's never won first-up so if she had to draw the outside barrier, it happened in the right run of the prep. 'She doesn't love it wet but she's going to get back and I would be very happy if I get to see her passing a few in the last 200m.' Rounding out their quartet of runners is another horse resuming, Magnatear in the Congratulations Chris Waller Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m). 'If it was a dry track on Saturday, I'd be really confident with him,' Will said. 'I'm not saying he won't handle the wet track, I'm just unsure. 'He's a really healthy horse and I think he's going better than ever. I'm very excited about him heading into this preparation.'
News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Jason Collett has an appetite for more Group 1 success after breakout year
The evolution of Jason Collett sits on the precipice of entering its most significant phase. Collett, one of racing's quiet achievers, has been riding in Sydney for the past decade but there's a sense the Kiwi-born hoop is riding as well as ever. This week alone, the 34-year-old has ridden seven city winners – headlined by a four-timer at Royal Randwick last Saturday. It helped cement Collett's best-ever finish in the Sydney jockeys' premiership, a second behind James McDonald, with a new career benchmark of 74 city winners for the campaign. Add in his biggest ever Group 1 triumph aboard Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster Mile in the autumn and a career-best 18 stakes winners, it's easy to see why now more than ever Collett is considered among Sydney's elite. Behind it all remains a laid-back and calm demeanour with an insatiable appetite for more. 'I want more Group 1s,' Collett said. 'I want bigger race wins and those stakes wins help lead to that. 'That's what you need. To get on more of those better horses in those better races but it's evolving nicely.' Collett is quick to identify Stefi Magnetica and Group 1 Champagne Stakes runner-up Within The Law as two of those 'better horses'. Just this week, he got the chance to jump back aboard Within The Law as the Bjorn Baker-trained filly had her first trial this preparation at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday. Baker has aspirations of aiming Within The Law at Sydney's Princess Series with a Group 1 Flight Stakes tilt on the agenda on October 4 where she is an $8 third elect. • Rosehill Turf Talk: Mitch's big throw at stumps on $151 shot Within The Law saves her best work for race day with Collett keen to see her back at the races. 'She doesn't show a lot in trials or a lot in trackwork either so there isn't really a great deal to get excited about after a trial,' he said. 'We gave her a nice hitout and she was pushed out, that's the norm with her. 'It would be great to get a Group 1 with her and the Flight Stakes would be the target and we know she will run the mile. 'The 1400m and a mile is going to be her and those early races could potentially be a bit sharp.' Stefi Magnetica gave both Baker and Collett the biggest wins of their careers when she won the Group 1 Doncaster Mile on Day 1 of The Championships. Another big spring campaign looms. 'She is going to head towards weight-for-age racing now because she has won two of the biggest handicaps (including the Stradbroke),' Collett said. 'I have no worries she will be able to do it. 'Hopefully she can win another Group 1 now.' While Group 1s are sweet, Collett has made a habit of making his presence felt on regular occasions in town in recent seasons. He isn't one to set specific premiership targets at the beginning of a season but the carrot of finishing second in the Sydney title race for the first time added fuel to his late form surge. A midweek treble at Warwick Farm helped Collett eclipse his previous season best of 72 Sydney winners and edge out Zac Lloyd (67 winners) for the runner-up spot. 'When it got to the last month and a half and I thought I was obviously close enough to Zac, I thought we will try and get second if we can,' Collett said. '(wife) Clare and I had a family holiday booked in early July but in saying that, as it evolved, I thought if we were close enough it would be good to get. 'As it turned out it ended up being quite comfortable in the end.' Collett can pick up where he left off and get the new season off to a flying start aboard the Chris Waller -trained Narbold in the Capitivant @ Kia Ora Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Waller runners will make up half of the field in the opener with Narbold ($4.20) only shaded by Amusing ($2.90 favourite) in betting. Collett partnered Narbold two starts ago when a close second behind Centenario in a 1550m event at Canterbury before the gelding finishing fourth behind Amusing at the same track and trip last start. 'He just seemed to find one better when he loomed up two starts ago off a good tempo,' Collett said. 'His run last start was good when he was ridden on speed and I think he is better when he's ridden a bit quieter. 'From the barrier he should get a soft run in what looks to be a small field.' The Richard and Will Freedman -trained Cold Brew mirrors Collett's hot streak with the emerging talent set to hunt three straight wins in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m). Cold Brew, a $4.80 chance, has put together victories at Hawkesbury and Newcastle and deserves another crack in town. 'He's in a Midway horses where there is a few older horses there but he's progressive,' Collett said. 'I am looking forward to him. 'The ground will no doubt be a question mark for every horse but he is going well and when I rode him two back he won easily. 'He was tough last start when they got to him and he was a bit green but he is going well.' • NSW racing in the hands of weather gods Collett is hopeful King Taurus ($15) can bring his polytrack form to town in the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1200m) while he's happy to wait patiently for the chance to pilot Catch The Glory ($15) late in the card. The Jason Coyle -trained Catch The Glory ($15) is second-up in the Congratulations Chris Waller Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m). 'I think Catch The Glory is a good ride,' Collett said. 'She was out of her grade last start but had been trialling up really well. 'She is out of Zousain so should handle the wet and I think she is going well this horse.' Racing is expected to take place on another heavy track in Sydney with rain forecast on Friday and race day. Few ride wet conditions better than Collett. 'I don't have any secret to it, it's just get them to travel and balance and if they get through it, they get through it,' Collett said.
News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes target metro title after claiming Victorian premiership
Lindsay Park has sights on challenging Ciaron Maher in the Melbourne training premiership. Brothers Ben, JD and Will Hayes claimed the state title last season, with 240 Victorian winners. Lindsay Park saddled 253½ winners Australia-wide – up from 199 the previous season. Co-trainer Ben Hayes credited the success to the Lindsay Park collective – staff, owners and horses. • 'Since being in partnership – JD and I, and then Will, JD and I – every year we have had really nice improvement and last year, we were very annoyed we didn't get 200,' Hayes said. 'It's a great effort by the whole team behind us, who are working really hard. 'We get really good support from our owners and we've got a great team (horses) behind us now.' Evaporate and Shining Smile produced five wins apiece for Lindsay Park last season, while five other horses including Dublin Journal, Marble Arch, Rise At Dawn saluted on four occasions. Mr Brightside and inherited War Machine, previously trained by late Michael Moroney, combined for six wins, three at the highest level and about $6m prizemoney. Despite the overall Victorian success, Lindsay Park trailed the powerhouse Maher yard 113 winners to 69 in the metropolitan trainers' premiership but saddled 300 fewer starters in Melbourne. 'Will, JD and I are just proud (of the results) and hopefully, we've got a big task ahead of us next year to try and beat what we've set this year,' Hayes said. 'It's definitely been our best year to date … to be leading Victorian trainer for all wins is a good effort, hopefully, we'll be a little bit more competitive next year with metro, that's our aim.' Lindsay Park improved its metropolitan output 66 to 69 year-on-year. 'We trained a couple more metro winners this year, I think we've got the quality to improve again,' Hayes said. 'Ciaron has been dominant for years now, it would be good to hopefully make it a bit more even but we'll be trying our best and being as competitive as we can be.' Hayes could make an impression on Saturday at Flemington with six starters, including Aztec State. 'He didn't win the other day but it was a huge run,' Hayes said. 'He's building nicely and could pop up.' Lindsay Park has the firepower to compete anywhere, anytime this season with Mr Brightside, War Machine, Evaporate and Rise At Dawn primed for spring campaigns. Shining Smile, Scenic Point, Tycoon Star spearhead generation next. Hayes said Lindsay Park Euroa, Flemington and Pakenham stables were 'probably at capacity now', with horses inherited from late Melbourne Cup-winner Moroney and Godolphin more recently. 'There's been a big influx of horses and also had good support from our two-year-olds,' Hayes said. 'There's lots of exciting unraced ones too, which is great … full steam ahead. 'We have got to work harder than ever to try and win that metro premiership.' Mr Brightside is slated to trial on Monday. 'He's building up well, he looks great,' Hayes said. 'We cannot fault him.' Stradbroke Handicap-winner War Machine is being aimed at the next month in a bid to boost potential The Everest stocks.
