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Winners Circle

Tizso Fab breaks maiden December 30 Kerang 1400m   Walkers IGA Kerang Maiden Plate Jockey: Mark Pegus

Vagrant shows will to win December 26 Caulfield 1400m   Joe Brown Handicap F&M BM70 Jockey: Beau Mertens

Star Honour shines bright December 21 Seymour 1200m   Kilmore Ford - RMBL Investments Rising Stars Race Jockey: Tahlia Hope

Capre Omnia justified his odds on favouritism December 14 Kyneton 1103m   Miranda Park BM58 Handicap Jockey: Jarrod Fry

Seacryption breaks maiden in style December 12 Hamilton 1200m   Bet365 3YO Maiden Plate Jockey: Tahlia Hope

This season with 91 stable runners over 2023/24 

   1ST     |        20 
2ND      |         8
3RD      |         11

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Today's Runners at Echuca

It'sbruce 
Race 2 at 1.40pm

Sacramental 
Race 3 at 2.15pm

Star Honour shines bright

Connections of Star Honour after winning the Kilmore Ford - RMBL Investments Rising Stars Race at Seymour Racecourse on December 21, 2023

Consistent mare Star Honour added a third victory for the preparation at Seymour on December 21, providing an early Christmas present for her ownership group. As we have documented in previous articles, Star Honour’s form this preparation has been phenomenal.

Five starts for three wins and two thirds, she has really turned the corner and showcasing the talent Freedman always knew she had. The apprentice only race at Seymour loomed a key target for Freedman, who was able to secure the services of leading apprentice Celine Gaudray, who executed the race plan perfectly, storming over the top of her rivals.

Post race Guadray was very complimentary of the mare and pleased to get the result, “everything went to plan as I thought it would and when I asked her to go, she let down nicely.”
A mare in form is always a horse to follow and Freedman feels Star Honour is still on the rise through the grades. “Being a larger mare and learning about her along the way, I think she will have a little freshen up now, avoid the firmer tracks over the summer and we will see her return in the autumn and through the winter months.”

Kyneton proving to be a happy hunting ground for Freedman

Capre Omnia after winning the Miranda Park BM58 Handicap at Kyneton Racecourse on December 14, 2023

The lightly raced son of Headwater is a progressive gelding who is climbing through his grades and added his second win of the preparation, with a simply dominant display back to benchmark 58 grade. After running in a strong form race at Sandown a fortnight ago, of which there have been three other subsequent winners, Freedman felt his gelding was going to be best suited back to 1100m and the BM58 at Kyneton jumped out in the calendar. 

It was a comfortable watch for owners and punters, as Capre Omnia sailed straight past his rivals at the 400m under a hold before sprinting away to win by 3lengths. Capre Omnia was Jarrod Fry’s first winner back after an injury enforced lay off and Freedman was delighted to team up with his good mate to be back in the winners circle.

When questioned on the future of Capre Omnia, Fry commented post race that he thinks he can measure up in much stronger grade, “wins like this give a horse good confidence and Mitch’s team is going well.” 

Capre Omnia ridden by Jarrod Fry wins the Miranda Park BM58 Handicap at Kyneton Racecourse on December 14, 2023

Seacryption impressive at Hamilton

Freedman purchased the daughter of Encryption from the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale in 2022 and had earmarked her as an early type. That Spring Seacryption became Freedman’s first runner in the 2yo Magic Millions race on Ballarat Cup Day, unfortunately the weather conditions did not suit and subsequently she went for a break.

Returning to the races in June, Freedman looked to follow a path trailblazed by the stakes placed Vagrant in 2021. The filly targeted the Swan Hill Carnival but again Seacryption struck wet ground. 

“We feel she has good ability but unfortunately we just were continually hampered by the conditions," explains Freedman.

"We tried her on the polytrack, which she didn’t really enjoy and following that the decision was made to give her a break over the winter and attack the summer.”

Seacryption made great physical development in her time off and has come back an impressive three-year-old, to see her win first up was very pleasing for the team. Seacryption races in the colours of Mark Moody and was his first winner for the stable. Along with a number of Mark’s family and friends and with some of Freedman’s loyal stable clients, Seacryption looks a progressive filly who will continue to improve with racing and relish the summer conditions.

Seacryption after winning the Bet365 3YO Maiden Plate at Hamilton Racecourse on December 12

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Freedman ponders Skybird's flight path

Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman plans to give his rising star Skybird a short and sharp late autumn campaign next year with a focus on a Group 1 race in Adelaide.
Freedman is considering targeting the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on May 4 over 1200 metres first-up with the daughter of Exosphere.

The three-year-old filly was one of the finds of the spring, winning her first three starts as she graduated from a Ballarat Maiden to a Bendigo Benchmark 64 to winning the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic.

Skybird then suffered her first defeat when third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Freedman was proud of the Guineas effort as Skybird was slow to begin and settled a long way back before running on strongly into the placings.

“She was tired after the Thousand Guineas and pulled up a little shin sore,” Freedman said.
“I’ll see what unfolds, but she will have six to eight weeks off after a pretty busy first preparation.”
“She seems to be spelling well. We won’t see her in the autumn in Melbourne, but we’ll probably see her in Adelaide.”

Freedman said he had a big opinion of Skybird before she had even started.
“She obviously exceeded expectations, but we targeted the Thousand Guineas and to get a Group 1 placing at her first preparation was something to be proud of,” he said.
Freedman said he wouldn’t stretch Skybird out over a longer distance at her next preparation.
“We’re thinking the Sangster is a good target for her. Most likely she would have a short campaign and then we would target the spring."

Skybird heads to the barriers for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield

Owner of the Month Mark Moody

Q and A with Mark

Q: Where did your journey in horse racing begin and what was your first memory in racing? 
A: My journey in racing started 50 odd years ago after a chance meeting with local Port MacDonnell horse trainer, Vince Taranto. I would have been around 12 years old and I'll never forget riding his horses along the beach, through the sea and up sand dunes; techniques still used by trainers to this today. 
 
I was only ever meant to ride trackwork but one of my earliest memories was when I was 14 and Vince needed someone to ride Purple Para at a picnic meeting at the Glenburnie Racecourse in Mount Gambier. All I wanted to do was win the race but somehow ended up being the last horse to jump out and the last past the winning post. As if that wasn't bad enough, the horse shied after the post and I managed to fall off shortly thereafter. Fortunately the only thing hurt was my pride.
 
One of my fondest and earliest memories was winning my first race as a co-owner in 1984. I was part of a syndicate with 3 other mates, with Mount Gambier based Ezzy Thompson as our trainer. Our horse Commodore Prince won the Mingbool Potato Growers Maiden Handicap over 1200m at Glenburnie. Big celebrations ensued, as did an even bigger hangover the next day. This was also the first win I experienced in my own racing colours (red body with white dots and teal sleeves) and I'm fortunate that Mitch is happy for these colours to be used again.
 
Q: How did you become to have horses with Mitch and what has your experience been like as an owner?
A: I started with Mitch Freedman Racing 4 years ago after wanting to be part of a horse that could race in Victoria, potentially in Melbourne. I'd known of Mitch through his experience with various other trainers, and being located in Ballarat seemed like a great mix of proximity and skill. I've been involved with other trainers in the past and I can definately attest to Mitch's approach to all aspects of his training. He is methodical,talented, responsive and easy to get along with and it's great to see him having some success in his own right.

 Q: Do you have any goals or ambitions as an owner?
A: It has always been a dream of mine to win a decent city race at either Flemington, Moonee Valley or Caulfield.

Q: During your time in racing, roughly how many horses have you been involved in?
A: I've been involved as an owner or part owner of around 9 horses in total including 3 currently with Mitch - Seacryption won its first race recently with 2 others in training, yet to be named.
 
Q: For anyone looking to get involved with race horse ownership, based on your experience what would your advice be to them? 
A: I've always liked the idea of being part of a syndicate with a bunch of mates who understand that even though you'd like them to, your horses don't always win. And making sure you have plenty of money always helps!


Thank you for your time Mark, and all the best for the future with your horses!

Photo highlights from the month