STC moves to clarify Lee Freedman situation

The Singapore Turf Club says reports Lee Freedman has been given a licence to train in the Asian centre are premature.

The Australian Hall of Fame trainer has completed the first step by applying to the Malayan Racing Association but the STC says this is no guarantee his application for stables at Kranji will be granted.

The STC will meet on Thursday to discuss all licensing applications but has issued a stern statement taking fellow trainer Laurie Laxon to task over reports he said Freedman would take over his stable when Laxon returned to New Zealand.

“To operate in STC, a trainer must first obtain a trainer’s licence from the Malayan Racing Association (MRA). Only then can a trainer apply to any of the four MRA Clubs for stabling facilities. Application for stables in STC will be considered by the Club’s Racing Committee,” the STC said.

“In May this year, Mr Freedman expressed interest to train racehorses in Singapore. He was informed of the above process. He submitted his application for a trainer’s licence to MRA on 29 May, 2017.

“At about the same time, trainer Laurie Laxon announced publicly that “if he (Mr Freedman) gets his license, he’ll just take over my stable and buy my company”. This was quoted before Mr Freedman’s application was considered by MRA.

“Any presumption that a MRA trainer’s licence will be granted and STC stables will be allotted is incorrect. Mr Laxon has since retracted his statement citing that he was misquoted.

“The Singapore Turf Club takes a stern view of such insinuation, especially from one of its trainers based at Kranji, and will conduct an inquiry into this matter.”

Freedman Racing also issued a statement saying the information Freedman had been given a licence was pre-emptory.