Trainer Mitch Freedman and jockey Jarrod Fry enjoyed a fruitful end to 2023 with a winning double at Echuca on New Year’s Eve.
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Freedman, who won his first Group 1 with Attrition in October’s Toorak Handicap, is one of Victoria’s emerging young trainers.
He was up on the border to watch as It’sbruce and Sacramental scored breakthrough wins in their respective maidens.
It’sbruce ($3.50 fav) justified his strong market support in The Border Inn Maiden Plate (1600m).
The four-year-old son of Dissident landed that elusive first success at start eight after holding off Goats On Oats by a short-neck.
“They only went a steady tempo, but he travelled well in behind them,” Fry said post-race.
“He did a good job to win it, it was a tough effort.
“The blinkers on today really helped him.”
Mark down Sacramental in your black book after the three-year-old colt made a winning debut in the Rich River Party Hire Maiden (1300m).
A Kiwi-bred son of Sacred Falls, Sacramental ($3.90) had a large collection of owners on course for his debut and they couldn’t hide their excitement after he strolled home by 1¼ lengths.
Making the win even more impressive was the fact Sacramental raced a bit green and he is sure to take plenty of improvement from his successful first hit-out.
Freedman is likely to head straight to metropolitan grade with Sacramental, who beat home Ala Moana and the well-supported Prince of Proisir.
Global racing juggernaut Godolphin beat out two hometown trainers when Fire Follower prevailed in the Bourke Builders Maiden Plate (1100m).
Fire Follower, having his first start as a three-year-old after campaigning in the Blue Diamond series in his juvenile year, sealed a first career win by 1¾ lengths.
Jockey Daniel Moor produced a good ride aboard the son of Harry Angel, who sat towards the rear of the field early before pouncing in the straight.
Gala Diamond, trained by Donna Gaskin, caught the eye on his way to a runner-up effort.
It was a career peak for the son of Bel Esprit, who surely has a maiden win in him if he can repeat that performance soon.
Mutsuhito closed home solidly to run third for jockey Rose Hammond and trainer Gwenda Johnstone.
Bigger things are in store for Hellara after her emphatic victory.
The exciting three-year-old filly strolled home by 3 3/4 lengths in the Moama Bowling Club Rating 58 Handicap (1100m).
There had been some thought Hellara, trained by Danny O’Brien and ridden by Liam Riordan, had broken a long-standing track record.
But following further investigation, Bushido’s time of 1:03.13, set when he prevailed by seven lengths on Melbourne Cup Day (November 4) 2003, remains intact.
Despite that, Hellara ($3.20fav) stopped the clock in a slick 1:03.69 on her way to a second win in as many starts.
The daughter of Hellbent led all the way to break her maiden status at Bendigo on December 17, but was required to show some versatility two weeks later.
Riordan allowed Hellara to settle in behind the leaders and after extricating her to the middle of the track rounding the turn, the well-supported favourite did the rest.
Surely an appearance on a Friday night at Moonee Valley beckons next for Hellara.
Verbosity returned to winning ways in the Murphy’s Turf and Landscaping Rating 58 Handicap (1300m).
Trained by Andrew Bobbin, the five-year-old had finished runner-up at his past two starts and did a good job to hold off the fast-finishing Haather by a short-neck.
It was the first win for the Headwater gelding since his maiden success at Warracknabeal in September 2023.
Jockey Joe Bowditch deserved a great deal of credit for saving every inch of ground aboard Verbosity, while it was another tale of so close, but yet so far for favourite Belluna, who had to be content with third.
One of the day’s strongest betting moves landed when Not A Brass Razoo got the bob in Perricoota Station Rating 58 Handicap (1600m).
The former New Zealand and Tasmania trained galloper was the subject of a strong betting move from $3.10 into $2.30 with bookmakers pre-race.
Not A Brass Razoo looked in strife when High Torque launched late, but it was the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained mare hung on to score by a lip.
She sealed a winning double on the program for jockey Daniel Moor, who earlier won the opener aboard odds-on favourite Fire Follower.
Written Advice ($7.50) closed out the program with a nice win in the Bet365 Rating 58 Handicap (2100m).
The seven-year-old mare, trained by John and Chris Ledger at Wangaratta, was given a peach of a ride from jockey Jake Duffy and proved too strong for Maurarente, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths.
The success was the second in as many starts for Written Advice, who won at her home track on December 9.
Gregor Mactaggart is the editor of the Riverine Herald.