Two of the famous Freedman brothers were back sharing the winner’s stall on the opening day of The Championships at Randwick when Profoundly underscored her Australian Oaks claims in the Adrian Knox Stakes.
Prepared by Michael Freedman, the last start Kembla Grange Classic placegetter is part-owned by his older brother, Hall of Fame trainer Lee, who picked Profoundly out at the sales and did her early education before swapping his trainer’s hat to be Gold Coast stable manager for Michael last July.
“I bought her when I was training for $65,000,” Lee Freedman said.
“Then when I turned it up, I was looking for a good trainer, and my brother rang me.
“I was really happy that the form from Kembla worked out, because a lot of people were saying it was slowly run and it wouldn’t be good form.
“But I just knew that this filly had improvement to come, and we’d never run her over a mile-and-a-quarter. All she wanted to do was stay.”
Ridden by Tommy Berry, Profoundly ($5) powered to the line to beat Soverato ($3 fav) by 2-1/4 lengths with Satono Invader ($51) another 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Michael Freedman is keen to bring the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) winner back to Randwick in seven days for the Group 1 Oaks (2400m), provided she does well during the week.
“Why not? I think we’ll be here next week,” Michael Freedman said.
Adding poignancy to Profoundly’s win is the fact she carries the Freedman family colours of red with a purple sash, white sleeves and purple cap, silks made famous by several of their former stars including 1992 Melbourne Cup hero Subzero, 1994 Golden Slipper victor Danzero and 2003 Caulfield Cup winner Mummify.
Berry is likely to stick with Profoundly in the Oaks and believes she has the constitution to handle the back-up.
“She is a very clean-winded filly. She pulled up lovely then,” Berry said.
“She spends no petrol in the run, and she does it without any effort.”
Profoundly moved to the second line of Australian Oaks betting at $4.50, behind New Zealand classic winner Ohope Wins at $2.20.
