As Ballarat based trainer Mitchell Freedman prepares the promising three-year-old Asakura for a crack at The Kiwi at Ellerslie, we found out more about him with our latest round of QUICK QUESTIONS…
Do you come from a horse/racing family?
I did come from a horse racing family but from a different section of the industry – my grandfather was a bookmaker.
What is your first racing memory?
Hanging around the bookmakers stands at Geelong and Moonee Valley and enjoying the atmosphere.
Who is your favourite horse and why?
Attrition, my first Gr.1 winner.
Who is the best horse you’ve been involved with?
Wealth Princess.
And the best horse you have seen?
A photo finish between Frankel and Black Caviar.
Do you have any promising young horses for racing fans to look out for?
The stable has a number of three-year-olds on the rise – Asakura, Yukaina, Savitri and Salizou.
Who do you admire most in racing?
Those who have stood the test of time.
Who is your ‘what if’ horse?
I’m working on avoiding the ‘what if horses’ and buying the ones I want! In the early days I was underbidder on Madison County.
What is one change/improvement you’d love to see in racing?
Racing is continuing to improve its product, but what I would like to see is to continue the rewards to those on the front lines – the teams behind the horse, the stable staff and owners.
Which horse currently racing would you love to train?
Observer.
What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced in racing?
Doing a cartwheel with my pants down (jocks on) in the Caulfield carpark after Vagrant won the Bellmaine Stakes. After a tipster on the radio placed her on top I made a brash comment that I would fulfill – the said cartwheel in the mounting yard!
What is your favourite racing moment/biggest thrill?
Favourite racing moment is Attrition running in the Cox Plate. Biggest racing thrill is Skybird winning the Lightning Stakes.
What is your favourite pastime outside of racing?
R running and following all sports especially AFL and NRL
What is your favourite T.V show?
Kayo.
Best concert you’ve seen?
Not really a concert attendee. Sporting events a bigger priority.
What slogan summarizes your outlook on life?
Hard work doesn’t entitle you to success but it does put you in a place to achieve it.
Enjoy the moments of success and embrace them because they fly by quickly.
Favourite food?
Asian.
Favourite racecourse?
Moonee Valley.
If you weren’t a racehorse trainer what would you be doing?
Chef.