#Lee Freedman

The moment that Gold Trip etched its name into racing folklore: Well the Melbourne Cup has been run and won for another year and there was no shortage of drama, emotion and, of course, fashion. Gold Trip won the 162nd edition of the great race, as co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace combined with jockey Mark Zahra to deliver the goods. It…

A plethora of recent racing has produced a midweek card of only six races though there is enough depth to keep us interested. With warm weather the track should be no worse than soft and with the rail out 11 metres I will be looking for those that make their own luck.

The Inglis Digital Online sales have been the platform for a number of bargain buys along the way, but with the growing popularity of digital sales, we are now seeing some big bucks spent at the auctions. In Part One, we take a look at the sale-toppers from January to June, not including those sold purely as broodmares. The list includes a host of…

Photo by Josh Chiodo on Unsplash The race that stops a nation takes place at Flemington, Melbourne, on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 The Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest races on the international calendar, as the field competes over 3200 meters While the Kentucky Derby attracts interest from a mainstream audience in the United States, there are few…

AN incredible week of Flat racing starts Down Under in the early hours of Tuesday and ends with a late night in the USA a week today. By the time the Melbourne Cup is run at 4am UK time I'll hopefully be at Keeneland to bring you all the news and build up for next weekend's Breeders' Cup on Sky. But that's not to say the'Race That'Stops A Nation'…

The big track at the Sunshine Coast takes centre stage in Queensland on Saturday with good depth in most races. BEST BET HILLCREST AVENUE (Race 2 No. 9) NEXT BEST GREEN REIGN (Race 4 No. 4) VALUE BET TAPILDOODLEDO (Race 3 No. 3) Quaddie numbers are: Race 6 - 5.9,11 Race 7 - 2,4,6,9 Race 8 - 5,8,10,16 Race 9 - 6,9,11 144…

WHEN Danasinga won the first million-dollar Stradbroke in 1996, it was a snap decision by Lee Freedman to revert to the shorter course after he failed as favourite in the Hollindale Stakes. Two decades later, Freedman's Stradbroke mission with Malaguerra is more deliberate and has been in the pipeline for more than six months. The Hall Of Fame…

Tasmanian jockey Craig Newitt still holds the record for the UK's premier sprint, the King's Stand Stakes. Nature Strip's win in the group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot was hailed by some media commentators as the "best ever" by an Australian horse at the famous track. And, it may well have been. But it didn't take away the crowning glory of…

The Summer Carnival is upon us with the Listed Keith Noud the feature and whilst Doomben plays to front runners, on a good surface with the rail true all horses should get their chance. Mares in form have been good to me of late and I have gone overboard here. BEST BET: SALATEEN (Race 8 No 8) NEXT BEST: EKATERINA (Race 6 No 4) VALUE BET: STRATEGIC…

Trainer Chris Anderson thought he had never brought a better longshot to the races than Rubiquitous in Saturday's Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben, and he was proved right, but he had to survive a protest first. Early markets had the three-year-old rated a 50-1 chance, while punters flocked to the likes of Prince Of Boom, Startantes, Alpine…

Artorius will have another jumpout at Flemington next week before he leaves for England. Picture: Getty Images Artorius will have a final hitout at home before he travels to England to represent Australia at next month's Royal Ascot carnival. Artorius is one of three Australian sprinters entered for races during the famous international…

With fine weather the track may even get into the good range though with the rail out eight metres, I will be looking for those that can go forward and take a position. BEST BET: ZATTASTAR (Race 1 No 6) NEXT BEST: SAFEEYA (Race 3 No 2) VALUE BET: ROCKIN' ARTIE (Race 6 No 8) Quaddie numbers are: Race 5: 2,3,8 Race 6: 2,5,8 Race 7: 1,3,4,5 Race 8:…

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys has hinted at further stakes increases in coming months after releasing details of a massive $30m prizemoney package. "These increases are absolutely sustainable and fully funded, and there is a possibility we will be announcing further prizemoney increases in the next six months," V'landys revealed at a…

Ipswich has been getting plenty of racing and with the rail out between eight and 10 metres that will make it tough for those drawn in the boondocks. The tight track favours front-runners and with a bit of light rain around to take the sting out of the ground I want to be on those that can make their own luck.

For a race that seems to be run and won in a blink of an eye, the first Golden Slipper Chris Waller ever attended left a lasting impression. It was 1996 and Waller was then an unknown 23-year-old from New Zealand and was asked to lead a horse for the nation's dominant big-race trainer, Lee Freedman. "I can't remember who asked me but I can…

Grafton and Scone are the venues for NSW racing on Monday and I'm keen to have a crack at both venues with Winona Costin the jockey to follow at Grafton with a handful of rides at good odds. BEST BET Race 3 No. 1: Miss Super Local mare who resurfaces on Monday for the first time since her easy maiden win at Port Macquarie on May 17. NEXT BEST Race…

The third midweek in a row at Ipswich and we can expect an upset or two on the tricky track with weather likely to play a part. The tight track favours front-runners and with the rail out between four and six metres I want to be on those ridden by in-form jockeys that can take luck out of the equation. BEST BET: SOLAROSA (Race 1 No 6) NEXT…

Some interesting Southern invaders muddy the waters but previous form on the track proved a good guide at Eagle Farm last week and I expect much of same for this big 10-race card featuring the Queensland Cup. They were coming from everywhere to win last week and on a good surface with the rail out two metres there will be few excuses.

Pink Ribbon race day is always a big occasion though with track renovations underway field sizes have been reduced. A prospect of fair weather will help though on this tight circuit I will be looking for those that can make their own luck and aren't going to get caught in traffic.

Another off-season meeting brightened by some talented ones resuming. With fine weather forecast a good track is likely for Eagle Farm and with the rail out seven metres all horses will get their chance. With no standouts on the card I will be avoiding the short-priced ones and looking for value runners from in-form stables.

After a spate of Ipswich and Doomben midweeks it is back to the wide-open spaces of Eagle Farm. The firm surface can bother a few but with the rail out 10.5 metres all horses will get their chance and I am keen on a few dropping back from Saturday grade. BEST BET: GEMELON BOLT (Race 5 No 1) NEXT BEST: THIRD TIME ROUND (Race 7 No 12) VALUE…