Even after the dust has settled on Without A Fight’s brilliant win at Eagle Farm last Saturday, Sam Freedman has no regrets about not being more aggressive in his first-up placement with the import.
The Teofilo six-year-old displayed an explosive turn of foot to power away from his rivals late in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup in a performance that had some wondering whether he should have contested the $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup seven days earlier.
Without A Fight posted a Timeform rating of 118 in Saturday’s 1800-metre event, which was the same figure Huetor returned with his win in the Doomben Cup.
Freedman, who trains with his father Anthony, said the 2000m Doomben Cup might have been a bridge too far first-up for Without A Fight, but said the performance gave them something to think about when contemplating goals later in the year.
“He wasn’t ready (for the Doomben Cup), he was probably just ready for Saturday, but he’s got a good set of lungs on him, so he quickened down really well,” Freedman said.
“It would have been interesting if he did line up, he might have been right there in the finish, but I think we will have plenty of time with him. He’s still lightly-raced for an older horse so we’ve got plenty of time to get him back to that Group 1 level.”
The Lord Major’s Cup was Without A Fight’s first start since finishing 13th in last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m), when trained by Simon and Ed Crisford.
He was transferred to the Freedman stable after that, but was scratched from the Group 2 Zipping Classic owing to a leg issue and been given plenty of time to get over that.
The gelding bounced out of Saturday’s win and will now head to the $1.2m Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 10, after which the Freedmans will get serious about a spring plans.
“He showed a good turn of foot there on the weekend,” Freedman said.
“I know his owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid would love to get him back to the Melbourne Cup. He probably got the ground not to suit last year, when he actually travelled up like he was going to run a real race.
“So, possibly the Melbourne Cup, possibly the Caulfield Cup, those sort of targets, but I wouldn’t rule out maybe a Cox Plate or a Mackinnon (Champions Stakes), something like that.
“I think we just want to get to know him a bit better and get through his next run and then we can target up the spring.”