Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Continuing our ‘Stable Tour’ journey, The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Sam Freedman, who, alongside his father Anthony Freedman, trains under the Freedman Racing banner.
Freedman Racing has been strong supporters of the first yearlings by their former star 2-year-old, Hanseatic. Bred and raced by Godolphin, the son of Street Boss (USA) won the Listed Merson Cooper S. on debut and returned in the autumn to claim the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) and the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings).
Hanseatic | Standing at Rosemont Estate
Hanseatic went on to be placed in the G1 Blue Diamond S. before being retired to Rosemont Stud, where he’s proven popular.
Freedman told TTR AusNZ, “I believe we’ve got five or six Hanseatics in total in the stable. They’ve all shown themselves to have very good brains; they’re quite forward.”
“I believe we’ve got five or six Hanseatics in total in the stable. They’ve all shown themselves to have very good brains; they’re quite forward.” - Sam Freedman
He added, “We’ve got a nice colt who looks early enough out of Adorabeel. He looks very sharp, but overall the Hanseatic progeny seem to be taking after him.”
The colt mentioned by Freedman is by Hanseatic and out of the Savabeel mare Adorabeel (NZ), who won six races, including the G3 Aspiration H. He was initially purchased for $145,000 by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Anthony and Sam Freedman | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sullivan Bloodstock then offered the colt at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Anthony Freedman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $250,000 for him.
Tropicus runs to the Rose
Resuming last Saturday in the G3 San Domenico S. was the promising colt Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}). It was only the 3-year-old’s second start, and he was far from disgraced, finishing behind Storm Boy (Justify {USA}).
Tropicus settled at the rear of the field and worked home strongly to finish second, suggesting he may be looking for a distance beyond the 1100 metres of the Group 3 contest.
Freedman was pleased with the colt’s effort, stating, “I think he ran the fastest last furlong of the day at Rosehill. We will push on to The Run to the Rose, which is obviously going to be a hot race.
“All being well, we’ll progress to the Golden Rose and then see how he comes through that. Tropicus is probably going to be best over 1400 metres or a mile; he may even get further than that, but it was a really good return.”
“Tropicus is probably going to be best over 1400 metres or a mile; he may even get further than that, but it was a really good return.” - Sam Freedman
The son of Too Darn Hot (GB) was an impressive debut winner at Caulfield in May over 1100 metres. Tropicus was bred by Kia Ora Stud and D Kelly and J Kelly. He is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Extensible, who was placed in the G3 Summoned S.
Ameena kicks off campaign with a bang
Freedman’s smart filly Ameena (Tassort) began her spring campaign with a bang, defeating Manaal (Tassort) to win the G2 Silver Shadow S.
The daughter of Tassort is dual nominated for this Saturday, holding entries for the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. at Moonee Valley and the G2 Furious S. at Randwick.
Freedman shared, “She’s in Sydney, but she’ll be dual accepted on Wednesday for Saturday. We’ll just see how she draws and how the races look.
Ameena | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Ameena was a good winner first-up, she’s pulled up really well, so we’ll assess both races and then decide from there.”
Freedman also mentioned that Henlein (Dundeel {NZ}) has ambitious targets, stating, “He’s a nice horse and has been trialling up in Sydney. Henlein will probably kick off there on September 14 in a Group 3.
“He’s heading towards the G1 Spring Champion S.”
“He’s (Henlein) heading towards the G1 Spring Champion S.” - Sam Freedman
Henlein had two starts as a 2-year-old, winning impressively at Bendigo before placing at Flemington behind Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun).
The colt was a $300,000 purchase by Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) from Milburn Creek’s draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Henlein is out of the Group 3-winning Nicconi mare Time Awaits, who is also the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Magic Time (Hellbent).
Finally, Freedman highlighted Matisse (Microphone) as a 3-year-old to watch, adding, “Matisse is a Microphone filly who was very unlucky in the Blue Diamond. She’ll head towards the Thousand Guineas. She had a trial the other day and will make her way down to Melbourne in the next couple of weeks.”
Matisse is out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Sanadaat, who was placed in the Listed Talindert S. and finished fourth in both the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. and the Listed William Crockett S. The daughter of Microphone was placed in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) and the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies).
Without A Fight progressing well
Freedman has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the stable's champion, Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). A winner of the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup last spring, Without A Fight sustained a tendon injury that caused him to miss the autumn campaign.
Without A Fight (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Freedman shared, “He’s going well for now, and we’ll continue to train him with the aim of a spring race. If it’s the Melbourne Cup, it’s the Cup; if not, it might be the Cox Plate or another race.
“We’ll know a bit more in the coming weeks, but everything’s been going to plan so far.”
Spring stars
Right To Party (Zoustar) has shown an affinity for the Flemington straight, securing victories in both the G3 Aurie’s Star H. and the Listed Creswick S. Freedman shared his plans for the filly, stating, “Right To Party will run in the G2 Bobbie Lewis on September 14. She trialled really well the other day and loves the straight. We’ll get through that race on the 14th and then see how she goes.”
Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) joined the Freedman stable after being purchased by the Panthalassa Syndicate for $500,000 from the Newgate Consignment at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The daughter of Pride Of Dubai previously won the Listed Gosford Cup for the Freedmans and had earlier successes in the G2 Matriarch S. and the G3 Belle of the Turf S.
Deny Knowledge (Ire) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Freedman told TTR AusNZ, “She recently won a trial. We’re not sure where Deny Knowledge will kick off yet, but we’ll probably keep her in mares’ grade and likely aim her at some of those 2000-metre, mile-and-a-half Group 2s and Group 3s, and see where she gets to.”
Another horse with a potential path towards the G1 Melbourne Cup is Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). The import was an impressive winner of the G3 NE Manion Cup during the autumn in Sydney. Freedman added, “He will run in The Archer on September 14. He’s taking good improvement out of his first-up run, he’s well, and he’s heading towards the Melbourne Cup.”
Yulong-raced Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was second to fellow Yulong-raced Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) in the G1 Ranvet S. during the autumn. Freedman provided an update on the daughter of Lope De Vega (Ire), saying, “She’ll either run in the G1 Makybe Diva or the G1 Underwood S. first up. She’s heading towards the Caulfield Cup, and she seems to have come back really well. Place Du Carrousel trialled nicely about 10 days ago, and we’re very pleased.”
