Lee Freedman, who hasn’t had a runner in Melbourne for nearly a decade, is making a return to the Victorian turf as Binding represents his stable at Sandown on Wednesday. The Gold Coast-based trainer highlighted the lack of suitable mares’ races in Queensland as the reason behind sending Binding down south, where she will be looked after by Freedman’s brother Anthony and nephew Sam.
“It’s the first one that I’ve sent one down to them, it’s for a specific reason and tomorrow will tell us which direction we’re heading in,” Freedman told racing.com.
Binding, a five-time winner from 25 starts, has seen a rise in ratings from 70 in Queensland to 75 in Victoria, surprising Freedman given the tough competition in the southern state. Uncertain about her performance in the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1600m), Freedman admitted, “I’ll be watching her with interest to see if I think she can make the grade down there, otherwise she’ll be coming back.”
Opting for Jamie Kah as the jockey, Freedman emphasised the significance of a good female rider for Binding’s success, stating, “I wanted a good female jockey on her because she does seem to respond well.”
With Binding listed as the $5.50 joint favourite with Ladbrokes for the Sandown event, Freedman eagerly awaits the outcome, eager to gauge his mare’s performance in Melbourne.
