Listen in and stay informed with Mitch Freedman and Racing Manager Alex Ross

Winners Circle

Ceerseven flashes home to win January 27 The Valley 1600m   Ascend Sales Trophies Challenger Handicap BM70 Jockey: J.Kennedy

It'sbruce wins two in a row January 20 Flemington 1600m   Bet365 Top Tote Plus Handicap BM0 - 58 Jockey: J.Fry

Red Rowie breaks maiden on debut January 20 Camperdown 1400m   Pipeline Fabricators Maiden Plate Jockey: J.Fry

Vagrant goes back to back January 13 Flemington 1400m   Honouring Our Jockeys Plate BM70 Jockey: B.Mertens

Docinthe breaks maiden ridden by Damian Lane January 12 Cranbourne 1200m   New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka 2024 4YO+ Maiden Jockey: D.Lane

Kathy's Beau adds second career win January 1 Burrumbeet 1350m   T.B White & Sons BM64 Jockey: E.J.Walsh

This season with 111 stable runners over 2023/24 

   1ST     |        28 
2ND      |         9
3RD      |       13

Ceerseven flashes home late to win at The Valley

Connections of Ceerseven (NZ) after winning the Ascend Sales Trophies Challenger Handicap at Moonee Valley Racecourse on January 27

Like his namesake has done so many times before, Ceerseven was able to get his head down at the right time, scoring a metropolitan victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday January 27.
Ceerseven would have been a very popular horse in the black book of punters following his dazzling run home at Geelong first up and this time he was able to go a couple better, justifying his favouritism to add his third victory of his young career.
Ceerseven’s run was a Moonee Valley classic, taking off at the infamous school near the 600m,  rounding his rivals to arrive just in time to victory. The amphitheatre that is Moonee Valley was roaring with excitement from his ownership group in the final 100m, as Ceerseven ran a career best last 200m to ensure his victory.
Ceerseven saw the first metropolitan victory for young apprentice Jaylah Kennedy. Kennedy’s smile in the final 50m said it all, as Ceerseven continued to lengthen providing her with the biggest thrill of her career to date. Lost for words post race, Kennedy described the feeling as simply “Unbelievable.” Freedman was full of praise for Kennedy and the exciting Ceerseven, quoting post-race “Jaylah was able to improve into the race at the right time and  the horse showed real endeavour, a will to win at the finish and it was really pleasing to get the job done.”
After testing Ceerseven at stakes level at the end of his first campaign, Freedman will elect to keep stepping up through the grades and is optimistic that he may be able to climb back to that level at some stage in the future.
The victory brought Freedman’s season tally up to 28, which was the total number of winners for the 2022-23 season for the stable. Freedman sits 15^th on the Victorian Training Premiership, with clearly the best strike rate and significantly less total runners (107) than any of his rivals. With six months to run, Freedman is well and truly on track for a record year!

Join our group 1 winning team with this athletic filly by Capitalist out of Royal Missile

ALEX ROSS     |    Racing Manager  |    +61 447 085 802
E: alex@mitchfreedmanracing.com.au

Camperdown winning double

Connections of Red Rowie after winning the Pipeline Fabricators Maiden Plate at Camperdown Racecourse on January 20

Mitch Freedman continued his flying form at Camperdown on Saturday January 20, with the team’s third winning double of the season. Impressive first starter Red Rowie was the eye-catcher of the meeting, proving superior first up over 1400m. The son of Alpine Eagle has been a work in progress with Freedman and has shown great improvement this preparation.

“We were planning to run Red Rowie after his third jump out at Terang earlier in the month, but after the heat I felt with one more jump out, over the increased distance of 1000m will further his education and should see him cherry ripe first up.”

Red Rowie was purchased by Roll The Dice Racing & Jeremy Rogers from Tasmania and we are thrilled to continue our winning relationship with Roll The Dice. Two of the five winners (so far) this month have saluted in the Roll The Dice colours with plenty more to come. Thank you to Roll The Dice and their ownership group for their unwavering support of the stable.

It’sbruce started 2024 the same way he finished 2023, in the winners circle. “Bruce looks fantastic in himself and continues to impress on the track. We were in a great position to place him in restricted grade and it was pleasing to see him get another win on the board.”

Both winners at Camperdown were partnered by Jarrod Fry, who continues his great association with the stable.

It'sbruce ridden by Jarrod Fry wins the Bet365 Top Tote Plus Handicap at Camperdown Racecourse on January 20

Vagrant goes back To back

Connections of Vagrant after winning the Joe Brown Handicap at Caulfield Racecourse on December 26, 2023

Vagrant made it two metropolitan wins in a row on Saturday January 13 with a fabulous performance at Flemington, showcasing her toughness once again. Where she outclassed her rivals despite a difficult run in transit jumping from a wide gate, approaching the 600 metres she was flushed out four wide with no cover. But the daughter of Pariah dug deep and was too good.

Beau Mertens reports, “I was exposed a little earlier (than I would like) but I was able to work her through her gears in the straight and she was really strong late.”

Very complimentary of his mare who has now earnt more than $200,000 in prize money, Freedman commented post race “she just has such a will to win, she pins the ears back and really has a go.”

Vagrant is already stakes placed as a 2yo and Freedman will be looking to add to her already impressive pedigree by chasing more black type racing down in Tasmania over the summer carnival.

Outstanding colt by Santo Aladdin, get involved now!

ALEX ROSS     |    Racing Manager  |    +61 447 085 802
E: alex@mitchfreedmanracing.com.au

Docinthe boasts a very meaningful story

Docinthe ridden by Damian Lane wins the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka 2024 4YO+ Maiden Plate at Cranbourne Racecourse on January 12

Consistent gelding, Docinthe finally found his way into the winner’s circle at start number 7 at Cranbourne on Friday January 12 after a string of placings. The son of Cable Bay boasts a very meaningful story for his ownership group, named after Teddy Docinthe who suddenly passed away in November 2020.

Teddy was a popular racing identity who worked for stables in Melbourne, where he with the likes of Redoute’s Choice, as well as regularly strapping Weekend Hustler. It was when Teddy was working with Colin Little, Teddy and Matt Lindsay struck up a strong friendship and following his passing, a team of close friends were assembled to purchase and race a horse in Teddy’s honour. Matt Lindsay was responsible for purchasing and training Docinthe in his early days before being transferred to Mitch as Matt’s training operation wound down.

Freedman commented after the race that it was “an honour” to finally break through with Docinthe and reward the ownership group for their patience. No doubt a special memory for the ownership group, it was fantastic to see some owners on course and I’m sure Teddy was looking down, giving his namesake an extra gear as he burst away from the field.

One for the omen’s – Managing Owner Chris McKenna sent us a photo on the morning of Friday January 12 of a coffee van which was named ‘Teddy’, the stars aligned perfectly.

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Race unfolds perfectly for Kathy’s Beau

Connections of Kathy's Beau after winning the T.B White & Sons BM64 Handicap at Burrumbeet Racecourse on January 01

Burrumbeet Cup Day is a real treasure of the Ballarat Racing Community, a race meeting that Freedman has had great success at in the past when winning the Cup.

Freedman explains, “I always love coming to Burrumbeet it is one of my favourite race meetings, to have a winner surrounded by family and friends is always a great thrill.”

It was fantastic to have the Whorlow family on course at Burrumbeet to see Kathy’s Beau win in the colours of their late father and immerse themselves in the spirit of the ‘Beet.

After a string of 4^th placings, the race unfolded perfectly for Kathy’s Beau, who landed in the one out one back position and relished the early tempo, peeling out and flashing home. Kathy’s Beau was ridden by Eoin Walsh, his 2^nd winner in Australia after relocating to Ballarat this Summer. Burrumbeet is a unique, tight turning track which was perfectly navigated by the Irishman, ‘a peach of a ride’ as they say.

Owner of the month Robyn Gray

Robyn (left) and her partner Andrew (right) with Mitch post Vagrant winning at Caulfield

Q and A with Robyn

Q: Where did your passion for horses and horse racing come from? 
 A: I have had a passion for horse racing since I was a kid. My dad was a racing fanatic and I suppose it just rubbed off. We grew up with incredible horses like Super Impose, Kingston Town and Mannerism to name a few. Shenzou Steeds was a great horse that Mitch had his first Flemington win with, from there we just kept going. When I met Andrew my partner it became our passion, he loved it as much as me. And it was an escape away from the office.
 
Q: What do you enjoy most about being an owner?
A: The greatest enjoyment is coming to the races and watching our horses with our friends, nothing better than having a champagne and watching your horse run. What people don’t know about racing is that it brings people together, we've found everlasting friendships. Some of the best enjoyment we have had is winning with our friends watching our horses cross that finish line first. Don’t worry there have been some very dark moments as well!
 
Q: What has been a highlight for you?
A: The best highlight not in particular order was when Bravo Tango won on cup day 2019, it was right after Andrews 50^th birthday. We hadn't slept and we went straight to Flemington, where we continued the celebration. And just recently we got to experience five wins within six weeks with Vagrant and Star Honour. Vagrant has given us so much joy of late, we have never won in the city twice in a row. There is more is there to come from her as she's so honest, she tries her heart out every time. I also love my 'grey elephant' Rina (Star Honour) who is a half-sister of Legion Of Merit, to see her come back from injury like that has been amazing. Patience has been key with her!
 
Q: As an owner how many horses have you been involved in over the years?
A: Is there a favourite among them, if so why was he\she your favourite?  As above, I also had a soft spot for Bowing, I thought he was going to be super-fast but I was wrong.  I learnt to ride a horse as I had visions of riding him in retirement ( that definitely did not come true).  We also loved Delta Tango winning in COVID on a very heavy track.  It was a thrill we needed to get through that horrible time. 
 
Annette and Michael McGrath winning with Attrition has also been a highlight although we said no to that one (Andrew has not let me forget!) that’s what racing does, it makes you happy for the people that you love through racing. 
 
Q: As an owner at Mitch Freedman Racing what is one thing you like the most?
A: The fact I never know what Mitch is thinking and his very cryptic messages. Mitch, Jenna, Alex and team do a great job. We have been with Mitch since Kororoit and have loved watching the stable grow to where it is today.
 
Q: As a valued owner is there anything that Mitch Freedman Racing could improve/change? 
A: Mitch can end his messages by saying have a big bet when he’s confident!!!
 
Q: Lastly, if you were to give advice to someone looking to get into racing what would you say? 
A: Make sure you have a good day job and can afford the bills because there are some dark days when they don’t win!  All in all enjoy where the racing takes you.
 

Celebrations at Caulfield after Vagrant won Robyn (left) and her partner Andrew (right)

Thank you for your time Robyn!

Photo highlights from the month