Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Anthony and Sam Freedman’s incredible recent run of big-race success with 2-year-olds continued at Caulfield on Saturday, with Kings Consort (Ilovethiscity) scoring a gusty victory in the $1 million The Showdown.
The father-and-son team, who are based at Flemington, won the G1 Blue Diamond S. in February with Daumier (Epaulette), who went on to run fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and G1 Sires’ Produce S.
They won the Diamond in 2021 with Artorius (Flying Artie), and in 2019, Anthony trained Lyre (Lonhro) to win the race.
Earlier this year, Crosswinds (Written Tycoon) – a $1.1 million yearling - scored in the Listed St Albans S., while Bistro (Street Boss {USA}) was victorious in the Listed Cinderella S.
Neither Anthony or Sam was at Caulfield on Saturday, leaving racing manager Brad Taylor to do the talking.
“Do they have to shut the track (Caulfield) for the next two years? We’d prefer to stay here, I think, for these 2-year-old races over 1200 metres,” Taylor said.
“Do they have to shut the track (Caulfield) for the next two years? We’d prefer to stay here, I think, for these 2-year-old races over 1200 metres.” - Brad Taylor
“It’s a big result.”
The Freedmans had Crosswinds nominated for the race, but injury meant he didn’t accept.
“Obviously, we had the favourite for the race (Crosswinds) but unfortunately, he sustained an injury and missed the race,” Taylor explained.
“We had Mark (Zahra) as the rider and on Wednesday morning we thought we’d throw him in rather than going to Bendigo next week for a maiden.
Brad Taylor and Mark Zahra | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He’s a horse that has always shown a little bit and he’s a horse that is going to get further and when they went a nice tempo and Mark peeled out at the top of the straight I thought he was going to be closing hard.
“Shades of Artorius.”
Kings Consort was purchased for $32,000, and ahead of The Showdown, he had already banked $24,050 from three starts.
Saturday’s win sees $550,000 jump into the kitty, as well as a $10,000 Super VOBIS bonus.
Kings Consort as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The gelding is by Victorian-based stallion Ilovethiscity from Peckish (Snitzel).
He was bred by Miss S Beaumont and offered by Leneva Park at last year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where Anthony and Julian Blaxland swooped.
“When Anthony goes to Adelaide, he shuts the book and finds horses on type and this is another one of his fantastic buys. He’s a freak of a judge and with the help of Julian (Blaxland) and Sam, our bloodstock agents, he picks good horses and the team are fortunate enough and the owners reap the rewards,” Taylor added.
“When Anthony (Freedman) goes to (Magic Millions) Adelaide, he shuts the book and finds horses on type and this is another one of his fantastic buys." - Brad Taylor
The Freedmans have also had success with another son of Ilovethiscity, King Of Hastings, who has won six races and more than $600,000 in prizemoney.
Zahra admitted he didn’t know much about Kings Consort earlier in the week, but was thrilled to partner him to his maiden victory.
“The world works in mysterious ways. We were on Crosswinds and he was due for a jump-out last week and, to be honest, when he didn’t accept and this one accepted, I said, ‘I’ve never heard of this horse, what happened here?’
“One went sore so I picked this up and thought alright away we go and luckily he’s got the money.”
Connections of Kings Consort after winning the $1 million The Showdown at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Kings Consort held off Tasmanian gelding Bello Beau (Brazen Beau), with Volander (Bel Esprit) back in third.
More than 20 people are involved in the ownership of Kings Consort, and they certainly made their presence felt on course, sent into raptures when their 2-year-old had the race won.
Ilovethiscity – a winner of the G1 Randwick Guineas - is enjoying a good run. He also had recent winner Capital Express in today’s The Showdown, with the Nick Ryan-trained runner finishing seventh.
Diamond City – $120,000 Inglis Premier purchase – won impressively for Annabel Neasham at Wyong earlier this month, before running fourth in Race 1 at Randwick today.
And Beauty Fit ran third for John Size in Class 3 company at Sha Tin on April 16.
Ilovethiscity | Standing at Noor Elaine Farm
Ilovethiscity stood the 2021 season at Noor Elaine Farm for $8800 (inc GST).
Tim Jackson, stud manager at Noor Elaine Farm, told TDN AusNZ, Ilovethiscity is really hitting his straps.
“It’s a great result for the stallion, he is doing a good job, a really good job,” he said.
“Hopefully this gives him a further kick along.
“We’ve got a lot of faith in him.”
Peckish failed to win a race in four starts. Kings Consort is her fourth foal, while she has a yearling filly by Puissance De Lune (Ire) on the ground.
