Hall of fame trainer Lee Freedman has been on a learning curve with Inishowen and a comfortable victory at Flemington has him convinced the mare is on the rise.
Inishowen was well-supported from $9 to $5 in Saturday’s Elms Handicap (2000m) and notched just the second win of her 15-start career to date, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths over Sure You Can ($5) with favourite Spanish Love ($3.60) third.
Inishowen
Freedman returned to the training ranks in late November to form a training partnership with his brother Anthony and Inishowen resumed her current campaign in mid-December.
“To be honest, I knew nothing about her six weeks ago,” Freedman said.
But he believes that was a good thing.
“I’ve started with a clean canvas with her and had no pre-conceptions. She’s just been pleasing.
“I think she’s an improving mare.”
Freedman says the key will be keeping Inishowen on big tracks like Flemington and over distance, like Saturday’s 2000m journey or even further.
“I think we’ll probably even get her out to 2400 metres,” he said.
The trainer said Inishowen could be a country cups-type horse or chase black type in mares’ company.
Inishowen, having her fourth start of the campaign, settled in the box seat and when the field entered the straight a few horses off the fence, apprentice Patrick Moloney made his winning run on Inishowen to the inside of the mare’s rivals.
Moloney was impressed by the win.
“She gave me the feel of a really nice mare going forward,” Moloney said.
