Tough mare Hazard could have extended her racing career thanks to some smart thinking by her trainer Lee Freedman.
Hazard ($8) came from near last to beat the favourite Catkins ($1.90) by 1-1/4 lengths in the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
However, if it hadn’t been for Freedman, who trains the mare in partnership with his brother Anthony, she would have been home in Melbourne or spelling.
The Freedman brothers were not at Doomben but Godolphin’s Henry Plumptre gave them full credit for the win.
“Three weeks ago this mare (Hazard) was in Adelaide and Queensland wasn’t on our agenda,” Plumptre said.
“But Lee said he would like to take her to Brisbane and try to get into the (Group One) Tatt’s Tiara at the Gold Coast in two weeks time.
“That is where we will be heading now and the 1400 metres of that race should suit her very well.”
He said if Hazard raced well she would probably have another season of racing.
Hazard won the Group Three Proud Miss Stakes in Adelaide at her previous start and her value as a broodmare continues to climb.
However, the lure of more stakes wins could see her race on to the spring.
Jockey James McDonald ensured he would leave for England on Sunday in winning form with a clever ride on Hazard.
“She got well back in the field but she has a genuine turn of foot,” McDonald said.
McDonald has a contract to ride for Godolphin in Europe for the next few months.
Hugh Bowman, who rode Catkins, said the mare wasn’t suited in the lead even though it was an even tempo.
“But the winner was too strong in the final 200 metres,” Bowman said.
Bound For Earth ($21) ran home strongly to finish third, a half length behind Catkins.
