A solo Slipper for Freedman
Michael Lee
The Freedman name was etched on the Golden Slipper honour roll for the sixth time on March 22, but to Michael, the youngest brother of the famous Australian racing family, Marhoona was his very first winner of the world's richest 2YO race as a trainer in his own right.
The 56-year-old, who was among Kranji's leading trainers for nine years (2008 to 2016), was lost for words at the Rosehill Gardens winner's enclosure as he took in the enormity of the occasion.
While the FBI (Freedman Brothers Incorporated as they were known in the 90s) four-year blitz between 1993 and 1996 with Bint Marscay, Danzero, Flying Spur and Merlene as well as Stay Inside (2021) in partnership with Richard were all proud moments, going solo just had another appeal.
"It's a special day for the family. We won four, when myself and my brothers (Lee, Anthony and Richard) were together, and with Richard three years ago," said Freedman, whose eldest brother Lee also trained at Kranji after he left.
When praised for his affinity with juveniles, Freedman who trained Singapore champion 2YO Super One, now a successful stallion in Australia, played it down.
"I just love training horses. I don't want to be pigeonholed as a 2YO trainer," he said.
"But I'm so thankful to Emirates. We had a horror run last year with Manaal drawing off the track.
"So, to come back here and win it for them with a home-bred filly, a massive thank you to Hussain Lootah who's watching from Dubai."
Already a Golden Slipper winner with Mossfun in 2014 and Estijaab in 2018, the Emirates Park supremo might not even have tuned in had Marhoona ($47) not scraped into the last slot, right at the death.
"It's the ups and downs of racing, it's incredible. I felt we had the right filly if we could sneak into the field," said Freedman.
"To sneak in at the 11th hour and also to get a jockey of the quality of Damian Lane, I just felt the stars were aligning a little bit."
Lane, who notched his first Slipper with Kiamichi in 2019, was also delighting in the second hurrah.
"Michael and I gave her a good chance coming in," said Lane.
"She was the last one in the field on Tuesday morning. It's great she made it in and she was just super.
"I thought he (Wodeton) had us at the 100m. (My filly) just floated a touch and peaked on her run, but she just gave me one more effort, gritted her teeth and did enough."
Threading his way in from midfield, second favourite Wodeton (James McDonald) kept chipping away on the outside, but came up short by a head.
Tempted (Blake Shinn), who beat Marhoona in the Group 2 Riesling Stakes (1,200m) on March 8, and started as the 4-1 favourite, ran third another ½-length away.
manyan@sph.com.sg
