Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In this instalment of ‘Stable Tours,’ The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Michael Freedman to discuss the plans for his stable stars.
At the top of the stable's hierarchy is the star filly Manaal (Tassort). As an early 2-year-old, she claimed the G3 Gimcrack S. before returning in the autumn to secure the G2 Sweet Embrace S. and the G1 Sires’ Produce S. She ended her campaign with a fourth-place finish in the G1 Champagne S.
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Manaal is set to return in Saturday’s G2 Silver Shadow S. over 1200 metres. Freedman indicated that he’s keeping an open mind about where the daughter of Tassort may head next, saying, “She’s heading to the Silver Shadow S. I’ve been quite open-minded about her preparation at the moment.
“There’s obviously the Princess Series. The Silver Shadow S. leads into the Furious S. and then the Tea Rose and the Flight. That’s the most natural pathway for a 3-year-old filly like her, but we’re certainly keeping quite a few other options open.
“I think we will see how she comes back on Saturday and then sit down and make some further plans after that.”
Manaal | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Untapped potential
Freedman also highlighted some untapped 3-year-old prospects to watch over the coming months. The first of these is Spirit Of Wealth (Capitalist), who won a trial on Monday at Randwick. Currently unraced, the filly is the sixth foal from the unraced Bel Esprit mare Silver Spirit.
Spirit Of Wealth as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Silver Spirit is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Guineas winner Light Fantastic (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and comes from the family of Goodwood H. victress Benedetta (Hellbent). Spirit Of Wealth was a $90,000 purchase by Darby Bloodstock from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“We have a filly called Spirit Of Wealth, who I quite like from her two recent trials. She seems to have decent ability, so she’ll step out for a start in the next couple of weeks.
“She (Spirit Of Wealth) seems to have decent ability, so she’ll step out for a start in the next couple of weeks.” - Michael Freedman
“I also quite like a 3-year-old filly who’s probably a week or two off a trial, named Twinkling Star.”
Bred by Go Bloodstock, Twinkling Star (Zoustar) is the fourth foal from Look To The Stars. The daughter of I Am Invincible won the G2 Sires’ Produce S. and the Listed Princess S. She was also placed in the G1 JJ Atkins S.
Watch this space
Freedman shared that it was too early to single out any particular 2-year-olds from his stable. However, it's worth noting that Freedman, alongside Michael Wallace Bloodstock, made several high-profile purchases at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Among these was a colt by I Am Invincible, from the Exceed And Excel mare Overstep, purchased for $650,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud. Overstep won four races and was placed in the Listed Reginald Allen H. and the Listed William Crockett S.
Gallery: Some of the high-profile purchases made at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Michael Freedman and Michael Wallace Bloodstock
The duo also signed for a $650,000 ‘Vinnie’ colt from Lime Country Thoroughbreds. This colt is from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Different To (NZ), dam of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas victress Media Sensation (I Am Invincible).
Additionally, $550,000 was paid for a Zoustar colt from Segenhoe Stud. The colt is out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Granny Red Shoes and is a half-brother to the classy 3-year-old High Octane (Deep Field).
Freedman and Wallace also secured a $500,000 colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) out of Daysee Doom (Domesday), presented by Widden Stud. Daysee Doom won nine races, including the G1 Coolmore Classic, the G2 Golden Pendant, and the G2 Millie Fox S.
Mumbai and Moravia back in action
Also set to return on Saturday is the classy mare Mumbai Muse (Zoustar). The 4-year-old is scheduled to run in the G3 Toy Show Quality over 1100 metres.
“She seems to be coming along,” said Freedman. “It’s a strong-looking race on paper at this stage, but I’m happy with how she’s going. We’ll see how she goes on Saturday and then make further plans from there.”
Mumbai Muse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Mumbai Muse was a $525,000 purchase by Michael Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. To date, she has won the G3 Red Rose S. and the Listed Brian Crowley S. Additionally, Mumbai Muse has been placed in the G2 Furious S. and the G3 Widden S.
Moravia (Snitzel) has been trialling well, and his best form includes placings in the G2 Run to the Rose S. and the G3 San Domenico S., alongside fourth-place finishes in the G3 Eskimo Prince S. and the G3 Gold Coast Guineas.
Moravia was an $800,000 purchase by Mick Wallace and the Freedman Brothers. He is the first foal from the talented Star Witness mare Our Crown Mistress, a victor of the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate and the Listed Just Now H.
“We will probably run him next Saturday at Rosehill in just a benchmark race and see how he comes back. If he shows good form, we might aim a bit higher with him in the spring.”
Last season’s G3 Carbine Club S. winner Ducasse (Trapeze Artist) will also run on Saturday. “He’s likely to run over 1200 metres on Saturday. It’s probably a bit short of his best distance, but he seems to have returned in good order from a spell.”
Freedman pleased with Communist
Last Saturday, Communist (Russian Revolution) returned to racing after a hiatus, competing in the Spring Preview at Rosehill. The son of Russian Revolution has an impressive record, having won the G1 Randwick Guineas, and placed in the G2 Callander-Presnell S., the Listed Dulcify S., and the G3 Eskimo Prince S.
“He’s a bit tricky at times, but I was satisfied with his first run back last weekend,” said Freedman. “We’ll probably head him back to Rosehill in two weeks’ time for a slightly longer race. I think it was a pass mark after 10 months off the scene.”
Wings Of Desire (Pride Of Dubai), a half-sister to the Champion Mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), has made a perfect start to her career, winning twice at Hawkesbury and Newcastle. “She’ll come back to the stable in the next week, and we might just pick something in the lower grades for her in the next three or four weeks.
“We will see how far we get into the spring, but she’s probably more likely to be an autumn-type filly.”
