Freedman Brothers announce split
Richard and Michael Freedman will go their separate ways effective April 1 after announcing on Tuesday that they wish to pursue individual training careers.
The Sydney-based brothers trained 146 winners since teaming up in May 2019, including last year’s G1 Golden Slipper S. hero turned Newgate Farm stallion Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) and dual Group 1-winning heroine Forbidden Love (All Too Hard).
Michael and Richard Freedman | Image courtesy of Freedman Brothers
“After a number of successful years as a training partnership in Sydney, we have decided to dissolve the partnership and pursue individual training careers from April 1, 2022,” a joint release to owners read on Tuesday.
“The change to current operations will be minimal. Richard will continue to train from the stables at Rosehill while Michael will continue training from both the Randwick and Hawkesbury stables.”
Big wet sees NSW meeting changes
A slew of race meetings in New South Wales have been moved in the coming days, including Wednesday's Canterbury meeting, which has been moved to Thursday with amended race times.
The Goulburn meeting scheduled for Thursday has been moved to Friday and will host the G3 Kembla Grange Classic and the Provincial/Midway Championship Qualifier after Kemba Grange was deemed unfit to race on Friday.
"Racing NSW Stewards inspected the Kembla Grange track and deemed it unsuitable for racing following 88mm of rainfall over the last 24 hours, with 404mm in the last seven days," Racing NSW said.
Artist set for stint on the sidelines
Promising stayer Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will miss the majority of 2022 after sustaining an injury while spelling.
Floating Artist (GB) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Ciaron Maher, who trains last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup fourth placegetter in partnership with David Eustace, didn’t disclose any details about the incident but told RSN that the Seymour Bloodstock-owned galloper will be out of action for some time.
Hitotsu no certain All-Star starter
Hitotsu (Maurice {Jpn}) isn’t guaranteed to take his place in Saturday week’s The All-Star Mile despite being awarded a wildcard entry into the lucrative Flemington feature.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt, who was an impressive first-up winner of the G1 Australian Guineas, also holds a nomination for the G1 Rosehill Guineas on the same day.
"We'll just have to wait and see how it pans out. He's come through the race well, but he'll need to be really bouncing to take his place (in The All-Star Mile),” Maher told RSN.
Connections keeping options open
Nature Strip’s (Nicconi) managing owner Rod Lyons says the G1 Doomben 10,000 remains an option if the star sprinter doesn’t ‘take on the world’ during the Royal Ascot carnival.
Lyons said a final decision on where the Chris Waller-trained gelding heads will be made after next month’s G1 TJ Smith S. at Randwick.
“My heart wants to go to Royal Ascot, we are leaving it totally up to Chris (Waller),” Lyon’s told RadioTAB.
Dee likely to retain Pinstriped ride
Enver Jusufovic has thrown his full support behind Michael Dee despite the jockey receiving backlash for his ride aboard Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) in last Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas.
The Cranbourne-based horseman believes Dee was a victim of circumstances in the race and that he is prepared to use his services in Saturday week’s The All-Star Mile.
"I'll have to discuss it with the owners (of Pinstriped), but Mick (Dee) certainly has my vote,” Jusufovic told RSN.
All systems go for Jacquinot
Jacquinot (Rubick) is trending in the right direction ahead of his raid on Saturday week’s G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill.
Michael Kent Jnr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price, said the classy colt has trained on since an eye-catching third in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and should handle the opposite way of racing with aplomb.
Jacquinot
"He's a beautiful-going horse so that helps him out a lot, he's so well-balanced," Kent Jnr told Racing.com.
"He worked past an older mate pretty comfortably. They weren't out to break the clock this morning, but they'll have a stronger gallop here on Saturday.”
Doncaster on the cards
Bob Peters has confirmed the G1 Doncaster H. to be ‘well and truly’ on Inspirational Girl’s (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) radar if she runs well in Saturday week’s The All-Star Mile at Flemington.
The Danny O’Brien-trained last-start G2 Blamey S. heroine has been allocated 51.5kgs for the prestigious Randwick feature.
Late Auckland Cup tilt for Mohaka
Connections of Mohaka (NZ) (Nadeem) are hoping she can repay their faith after they made the late nomination payment for Sunday’s G2 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
The 6-year-old mare has been in good form of late, placing behind Waisake (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the G3 Trentham S. in January and running fourth in last month’s G3 Taranaki Cup before convincing connections that she could measure up in the Auckland Cup by the way of a fast-finishing third in the G2 Avondale Cup.
Mohaka (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“That (Avondale Cup) was her first go right-handed and first go over 2400 metres. I thought she stuck on really well,” Guy Lowry, who trains Mohaka in partnership with Grant Cullen, said.
“She has worked up well so we will push on to Sunday with her. On her work this morning I can see her right in it, otherwise we wouldn’t have paid the late nomination.”
Darley trio get first mares in foal
Darley Europe announced on Monday that five-time Group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB), G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Space Blues (Ire), and the Classic-winning Victor Ludorum (GB) all have had their first mares scanned in foal.
A Case Of You staying put
French Group 1 winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) will remain in Dubai to contest the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on March 26 after pleasing trainer Ado McGuinness when finishing second to the Godolphin-owned Man Of Promise (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) in last Saturday’s G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.
“He’s good and we’re very happy with him. He grubbed up well after the race, he had a nice roll on Sunday morning,” McGuinness said.
“I don’t know how we are going to beat the (Turf Sprint) winner (Man Of Promise) but we’re going to try again. I suppose if the winner wasn’t in it, we’d be hot favourite for the Sprint on World Cup night because we beat third easy enough.”
Get Stormy dies
Three-time Grade 1 winner and leading Crestwood Farm stallion Get Stormy (USA) died unexpectedly on Sunday at the age of 16 from what is believed to be a cardiac related event.
Get Stormy, a son of Stormy Atlantic (USA), sired 123 winners from 230 runners, six Graded stakes winners and 11 black-type winners at the time of his passing.
“Get Stormy was an amazing racehorse and came to us with all the credentials and a tremendous following,” Crestwood’s Pope McLean said.
“He was such a great physical (type) and was a pleasure to be around. He was poised to become a top sire, as his best-bred crops have yet to race. We are sorry and shocked; he is a great loss to our farm and Storm Cat’s legacy.”
