Latest news with #FreedmanRacing
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow and forgive out of Flemington Winter Finals
Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow and forgive out of Winter Finals Day at Flemington on Saturday. PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SASSY BOOM (2nd, R9) Gallant in defeat. Fired out from another wide barrier to settle on speed and gave her all late until $61 outsider MISS TARZY jumped out of the pack. Three runs under the belt now for Sassy Boom and primed to snare a deserved win fourth-up. CINDY FALLS (unplaced) also one to follow next start. Miss Tarzy surges through the pack to win stylishly on resumption ✨ @FreedmanRacing @stanley_jett — (@Racing) July 5, 2025 BAYOU MUSIC (unplaced, R2) Shallow race outside impressive winner BUCCLEUCH, but Bayou Music could be a spring three-year-old player for Godolphin towards the Victoria Derby. Stalked the eventual winner in the run from well back in the field but could not quicken as sharply to get into the race. The son of Street Boss out of a Zabeel mare should thrive at 2000m and beyond. It's the third time in the last five years that @mj_payne 's stable has taken out the Taj Rossi Final, this time through Buccleuch's dominant display 🙌 — (@Racing) July 5, 2025 PEREILLE (2nd, R3) Fourth start of the campaign so expected to do so and duly delivered with a hard fought second. Marble Nine too good, too tough and too fit late but Pereille lost no admirers back in Melbourne after three solid hit-outs in Sydney. Clocked the fastest closing sectionals on the card. INHIBITIONS (3rd) just peaked on the run first-up. The Godolphin pair should be hard to hold out next start. Marble Nine has to dig deep but proves to have the strength to overcome a chasing pack in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final ðŸ'¥ @liamriordan97 gets a well-earned Listed winner for the first time 🙌 @MaluaRacing — (@Racing) July 5, 2025 DUCHESS ZOU (3rd, R6) Not quite sharp enough to go with eventual runner-up SHE'S AN ARTIST in pursuit of BRIDAL WALTZ (1st) but motored the last 200m once fully into stride. Has improved markedly with racing in a short time, second in a Ballarat maiden eight weeks ago followed by easy back-to-back Sale and Geelong wins. Bridal Waltz grabbed the lead early & clings on to cause a major boilover to hold off the heavy favourite in the A.R. Creswick Stakes 😤 @moodyracingpgm @bmelham — (@Racing) July 5, 2025 BERKELEY SQUARE (unplaced, R8) First-up after a break and raced solidly over an unsuitable distance. The Ballarat Cup-winner saved ground midfield under apprentice jockey Jaylah Kennedy and worked through his gears nicely in the straight, albeit in and around tiring horses. Looks set for a nice preparation this campaign. Jimmy The Bear becomes a winter champion! ðŸ�» The lovable old marvel is victorious in the Winter Championship Final of 2025, after being the beaten favourite of 2023 ðŸ�† @mj_payne @TheBeeegan — (@Racing) July 5, 2025 FORGIVE OH TOO GOOD (unplaced, R8) Unable to burn the candle at both ends. Had to be used up from the wide draw to land outside the leader, who kept on rolling at a solid clip. Oh Too Good tried hard but could not sustain the effort. Earned a break and should be back for the spring. SHE'S AN ARTIST (2nd, R6) Rolled odds-on pop not ideal, but it is all ahead of the electric filly. Two wins and now second in a stakes' race a wonderful start to her racing career. She's An Artist is a neat filly on the smaller side so two weeks' between runs maybe not her go at this point in time. Stick with her and FIELDELO (4th). STREET ARTIST (unplaced, R1) First-starter around the mark in the run but copped a bump at about the 350m and lost momentum. Under pressure immediately after the contact and took the best part of 200m to balance up again. Should be better for the experience and around a bend next time. CAPTAIN ELECTRIC (unplaced, R5) A post-race veterinary examination found the gelding lame in the right hind leg. A genuine wet tracker not suited by conditions last Saturday. In the market the past two starts and disappointed on improving surfaces. Tough in drought conditions to find wet tracks but Captain Electric could benefit from an easier midweek metro option on rain-affected ground to regain confidence.
News.com.au
28-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Anthony and Sam Freedman colt Sonofkirk secures maiden win with late burst at Caulfield
Sonofkirk narrowly prevailed in the battle of two tribes when he overcame a slow start to score at Caulfield on Saturday. Both Sonofkirk and the runner-up Oyster Lane had hordes of owners supporting their charges in the Vale Snitzel (1000m) in a great advertisement of the egalitarian nature of Australian racehorse ownership. Sonofkirk was the last to leave the barrier but first past the post as a sharp turn of foot from the 250m enabled the colt to grab Oyster Lane on the line, denying the Ciaron Maher -trained colt a debut win with jockey Jye McNeil aboard. The Anthony and Sam Freedman -trained Sonofkirk ($4.20) was also slow away before running on strongly to finish third to the promising Miss Ole at Flemington on debut three weeks earlier. Race experience didn't help Sonofkirk's barrier habits but the Freedmans' racing manager Billie Rodda said the son of Caulfield Guineas winner Ole Kirk was able to get himself out of trouble. Sonofkirk came from nowhere to win the opener at Caulfield! He is one to follow ðŸ'° @JyeMcNeil @FreedmanRacing — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 28, 2025 'He didn't jump very well again today, the same as he did at his first start down the Flemington straight, but we were just pleased to get a good result,' Rodda said. 'We purely put it down to just rawness and being his first start. 'We came here today in hope that he would jump a little bit better but he didn't. 'But it didn't matter in the end. 'It was a phenomenal win. A super turn of foot so we're very happy.' Sonofkirk was a $65,000 weanling purchase but took his earnings to more than $95,000 in two starts despite his slow starts. Rodda said the youngster had the scope to improve with a little more education heading into his spring three-year-old season. 'We'll get him home and see that he's pulled up right but he's obviously a lovely two-year-old to take into the early spring races as an early three-year-old,' Rodda said. 'He may go away now but coming into a three-year-old season, the fact that he's still doing so much wrong gives us the confidence to know that he's a nice horse going forward. 'After doing it a second time today, we may take him home and do a little bit of barrier education work. 'He's got a very sharp turn of foot. So as long as he's producing that late, it's not costing him too much.' The Maher-trained Life After Love made an encouraging debut when belying her $71 starting price to grab third. Life After Love got a long way back but ran on well between horses in the straight to take third ahead of the Lindsay Park-trained Hello Romeo, who was the best of the on-pace runners.
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Adelaide River to make winter cameo in McKell Cup at Rosehill before Kris Lees turns focus to spring
Trainer Kris Lees is taking a one-and-done approach with classy import Adelaide River this winter as he looks to use Saturday's Listed $200,000 W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens as a launching pad to the spring. Adelaide River, a former Aidan O'Brien-trained galloper that's raced by Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams, was forced to miss Sydney's autumn carnival due to bone bruising. The 2023 Irish Derby runner-up came into Lees' yard last year and has so far had five starts for the stable without a win. But Adelaide River showed a glimpse of his talent at his last start in October when finishing fourth in behind Deny Knowledge in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m). Lees is hoping the son of Adelaide can measure up at an elite level again this spring ahead of his highly-anticipated return this weekend. 'We will only give him this one run and then back off him until the spring,' Lees said. 'He has had a long time off and seems to be coming up well. 'He was taking a little bit to acclimatise with a bit of bone bruising but it's settle down and he seems to have responded well.' âšœï¸� WOW! Yulong-owned Deny Knowledge (Pride Of Dubai x The Paris Shrug) strikes with a bold front-running performance in the G1 Might And Power S. under a brilliant Mark Zahra ride for @FreedmanRacing at Caulfield. She was bred by Mylestown Farms ðŸ'Œ #aworldofopportunity — Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) October 12, 2024 Adelaide River has been well-prepared for his first-up assignment with a pair of trials victories in the lead-up, including a 6½-length success at Wyong over 1200m on June 16. But Lees is wary of tackling a 2000m event fresh from a break. 'In an ideal world, if there was a mile race on he would have been in it but he is a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse,' Lees said. 'He has trialled nicely. 'It looks to be a nice race for him.' • Gollan marching towards another training milestone Lees is prepared to give in-form galloper Loch Eagle another chance over 2000m following his strong second-up victory over the Royal Randwick mile last time. The son of Lonhro has only raced once previously over more than 1800m when he finished near the rear over 2200m at Magic Millions on the Gold Coast. 'Loch Eagle won at 1800m quite well last preparation but when he got to the Sunshine Coast he had had enough,' Lees said. 'He is going well so we thought we'd give him a try in this kind of race.' Apprentice Ben Osmond will pilot Loch Eagle while Jay Ford is aboard Adelaide River. Lees is hunting his second McKell Cup after winning the race with Frankely Awesome in 2020.
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Catani Gardens primed for King's Birthday success at Mornington
Lightly-raced import Catani Gardens is well-positioned to build on his Australian profile at Mornington on King's Birthday Monday. The Anthony and Sam Freedman -trained five-year-old, $5.50 favourite in the 2000m Benchmark 74 Handicap, led all the way to win at Ballarat last start. The Irish-bred Catani Gardens, owned by Lloyd Williams and James Packer, won a Mornington maiden by three lengths last year in his first Australian start. The Camelot gelding then failed at The Valley when fading out of contention before being spelled. Sam Freedman said Catani Gardens 'should be really competitive' on Monday with apprentice jockey Tom Prebble again in the saddle. 'He was good last time (Ballarat) and 2000m seems like his wheelhouse at the moment,' Freedman said. 'He's been working well and it looks like a suitable race. 'He's a strong worker and seems to like to get on the speed … he should be really competitive.' Freedman is happy for Catani Gardens to dictate future race plans based on performance and merit. 'We're just taking him through his grades and seeing where he gets to,' Freedman said. 'We'll raise the bar and hopefully he continues to step up.' Freedman has six runners at Mornington including Everain and Winter Hail in a 1200m maiden. Blue Hawaiian, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, is a $2.70 favourite for the race from Freedman pair Everain ($3.10) and Winter Hail ($4.20).
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne Cup champ Without A Fight retired
Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight has been retired. Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman announced the decision on Thursday. Former international Without A Fight, who famously completed the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double in 2023, joined the Freedman yard in 2022. 'He has been an absolute gentleman to have in the stable and will be remembered as one of the finest stayers of his generation,' Freedman Racing said in a statement. 'His Cups double not only delivered the pinnacle of our training careers but also created unforgettable memories for all involved. 'He has left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to be part of his journey.' Without A Fight was ridden out to win a 1500m trial at Caulfield Heath on Thursday morning. He placed third in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) last November at Flemington – his last Australian start – after a 12-month injury break following a tendon injury and rehabilitation. ðŸ'½ @10SportAU | #MelbourneCup — Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 7, 2023 Without A Fight contested the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) last December but was unplaced. The $9.9m prizemoney earner won 11 of 25 career starts including four of seven with Freedman. 'As Without A Fight begins the next chapter of his life, we wish him the very best in his retirement,' Freedman Racing said. 'He has given us all so much – for that, we are forever grateful.' His Australian record included wins in the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup and Group 2 Q22 in Brisbane.
