Richard and Michael Freeman have continued their outstanding form with their two-year-olds, as Tiger Of Malay wins the BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The training duo have now trained two Group 2 winners and a Golden Slipper winner in juvenile races this season, as well as Park Avenue at Randwick earlier in the day.
The son of Extreme Choice didn’t gain a start in the Golden Slipper and was only fair in the Sires’ Produce at Randwick, prompting a change of plans for the colt.
“We sort of had to regroup a bit after the sires’ in Sydney, because he drew wide, he had the blinkers on and he over raced a bit and finished out the back,” co-trainer Michael Freedman said.
“They’re a great group of people to train for, Henry Field, the Newgate and S F bloodstock crew, we sat down and thought “where do we go here?” and we thought Brisbane was a nice option.
“I’ve always had a good opinion of the horse, but he just hasn’t had a great deal of luck with barriers and tracks and what not, and the last decent track he raced on was the Pago Pago where he was a bit unlucky there.
“I actually came into today thinking “if he got the right run, he’d run a super race.”
Tiger Of Malay jumped fairly and was urged along by Craig Williams in the early stages to take up a position just off the pace.
He sat three wide but had cover throughout the journey, pulling wide into the straight and running on down the middle of the track and fighting off some late challengers to win by 0.2 lengths.
The win continues the rich vain of form for the Freedman-trained two-year-olds, which Michael still can’t wrap his head around.
“If you would have said to me back in January that we could end up with three Group 1’s in the bag by the end of the season and two of them being Group 1 two-year-old races, one being the G1 Golden Slipper, I would’ve told you you were mad,” he said.
“As is the case with all stables, we’ve got a big crew of staff back at home that do a terrific job.
“It’s been amazing.”
The colt gives first season sire Extreme Choice a Group 1 and Group 2 winner from his very first crop.
But that may not be all for this Freedman-trained two-year-old, with his jockey Craig Williams wanting Tiger Of Malay to push on to the Group 1 J.J Atkins (1600m) in a fortnight’s time.
“The way he felt today, I felt the mile will be bare minimum for him,” he said.
“Even though late he was very vulnerable, but to get him into a position it took a lot of riding, I think he’s got a lot of scope and I think it’s a great opportunity for this colt to have a crack at a Group 1.
“I would be encouraging them to go there and wherever they’re going, hopefully I get the ride.”
