Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Following the success of Anthony and Sam Freedman’s outstanding stayer, Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who used the 'sunshine state' in the winter of last year to launch a successful spring campaign, culminating in the rare Cups double of the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup, the Freedmans are looking to grow their presence in Queensland.
The Thoroughbred Report caught up with co-trainer Sam Freedman to learn more about the stable’s latest venture and the benefits of Queensland’s climate on their equine athletes.
Freedman explained that the venture is in its early stages. In addition to a barn with room for 16 horses in the Sunshine State, the operation will also utilise Julian and Kacy Blaxland’s Newington Farm at Biddaddaba.
Anthony and Sam Freedman | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We’ve got a barn of 16 up there. So, we’ve taken that on a four-or five-month basis, and we’ve got a small team of horses in Queensland in addition to some horses spelling at Newington Farm as well.
“Predominantly, they are young horses that are coming through and rising three. It’s hard to have them ready for the spring staying in Melbourne. So, one of the main purposes of them being up there is to have them in really good shape for the start of spring. We’ve also got some stayers up there that are gearing up for some races in the spring as well.”
Fitzpatrick’s unconventional path part of a bigger plan
One of those horses looking to use the Queensland winter carnival to their advantage is the Freedman-trained Fitzpatrick (Snitzel). The $950,000 colt was purchased by the Rosemont Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA), Anthony Freedman Racing, and ARJB Racing from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Fitzpatrick was placed on debut at Bendigo and travelled to the Sunshine Coast where he broke his maiden, romping home by 6.5 lengths.
Freedman explained the unconventional path is part of bigger plan, “Fitzpatrick is down to run Saturday at Doomben in the $1 million R. Listed Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.
Fitzpatrick as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“For us, the synthetic maiden was about trying to qualify him for that race. Fitzpatrick did as we would have expected him to do in that maiden. He’s a smart enough colt, and that was an impressive performance. I believe he broke the track record, which doesn’t say a lot because obviously we’re on the synthetic.
“He’s a high-priced yearling ($950,000) and there were plenty of positives to come out of running there; he got some confidence, and he picked up some prizemoney. We’re hopeful that he’ll get into Saturday’s race but if he doesn’t, the worst thing that’s happened is he’s a winner now and can carry that confidence into another race.
“Fingers crossed he can get into the R. Listed Magic Millions National 2YO Classic because he’s working well, and he’ll put himself up on the speed and certainly make them earn it.”
Ideal climate
It is no secret that the much more pleasant climate of Queensland during the winter is beneficial and has been instrumental in creating superstars and major contenders for the spring. Recently, the likes of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), The Autumn Sun, and The Everest winners Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) and Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) have raced at the Queensland winter carnival with success and then made a significant impact in the spring.
Of course, the Freedmans very own Without A Fight won the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup in Brisbane and then was sensational in the G2 The Q22 before returning in the spring to win the G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Trackwork in the pleasant climate of Queensland | Image courtesy of Freedman Racing
However, success isn’t limited to those who have raced in Queensland. Even just a holiday to the Sunshine State is seen as beneficial.
Freedman told The Thoroughbred Report that his father, Anthony Freedman, will take the reins in Queensland, stating, “Anthony will head up the Queensland base, and I’ll remain in Victoria.
“I’d say Without A Fight’s success played a large part in this venture. However, Anthony will reference back to the 90s, when they would take horses up to Queensland for the same reason we do today.
“I’d say Without A Fight’s success played a large part in this venture. However, Anthony will reference back to the 90s, when they would take horses up to Queensland for the same reason we do today.” - Sam Freedman
“I think probably through COVID, it was a little more difficult to plan it with staff and getting enough boxes. But I think after the winter last year and the success that horse (Without A Fight) had in the spring, we were really keen to get more organised and have more of a presence up there for these colder months in Melbourne, where it can be difficult to get a horse ready for the start of the spring because the weather is so inconsistent.”
Freedman was quick to acknowledge that Queensland hasn’t been all sunshine, saying, “Mind you, they’ve had a fair bit of rain up there, but at least it’s a bit warmer and their coats shift a little bit quicker in Queensland than they do down here in Melbourne.”
Without A Fight | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
To put it in perspective, on Tuesday, the top temperature recorded in Melbourne was 14 degrees, while later in the evening it dropped to a chilly 7 degrees. Comparatively, Brisbane enjoyed a more than comfortable 23 degrees, with a low of 12 degrees. The weekly forecast hovered around 23 degrees.
Time is right
Freedman advised that the time is right to have a bigger presence in Queensland following a $17 million increase in prizemoney for thoroughbreds in February last year, with $9.2 million of that earmarked for metropolitan, provincial, and country TAB meetings, among other initiatives.
“There's seemingly plenty going on in Queensland,” Freedman said. “They seem to be very progressive in their thinking, and there's plenty of new races and good prizemoney.”
“The tracks are getting better and better all the time, and they seem to be listening to a lot of feedback from local trainers and visiting trainers, as well. Racing Queensland have been more than happy to accommodate and help out, whatever is necessary, which I think is really healthy for Australian racing and really encourages you to take horses up there, so, look it’s something we're happy going forward with.”
“There's seemingly plenty going on in Queensland... They seem to be very progressive in their thinking, and there's plenty of new races and good prizemoney.” - Sam Freedman
Explaining the additional benefits of going to Queensland, Freedman said, “I feel for our horses, in addition to the physical benefits of taking horses to Queensland, there’s a real mental benefit for some young horses. Especially those who are a little timid; when you put them on a truck and travel them up there, they tend to return a lot more mature and easier to handle.
“In our opinion, there’s no real negatives. Sometimes, perhaps things don’t go to plan up there for some young horses; sometimes it’s a bit much. But either way, we look at it as nothing ventured, nothing gained.
“So, definitely something we’ll continue to do.”
