Freedom Now Beats The Odds

FREEDOM NOW came with one of the biggest finishes ever witnessed at Newmarket to win a thrilling $80,000 Frugal Shin Memorial today. Only 2.5L covered the first 9 horses home in what was one of the busiest finishes at Newmarket of the season.

The early speed was set by ENDS IN SKI who was aided by barrier 1, and he went through to hold out SHAMNASU and BE SHARP ER and set the early speed. BEATING THE ODDS, TRIPPING ON ACID and BREGO all sat in striking positions behind the speed, whilst race favourite JACK’S MAGPIE and the heavily backed FREEDOM NOW got back towards the rear. Approaching the home turn BEATING THE ODDS, TRIPPING ON ACID and NASU MONTSEGUR all loomed ominously, whilst BREGO was looking for a way clear. Just as A.Craig was able to get him into clear running, BEATING THE ODDS had gotten the better of the early leaders and stolen a break. BREGO was flat trying to pick up BEATING THE ODDS, who by now was being hailed as the winner until FREEDOM NOW levitated from 12th on the home turn to overhaul the gallant colt, and run away with the prize in a close 3 way finish.

The winner is a 4yo son of Giants Causeway and todays win takes his record to 6 from 17, with a tick over $200k in prizemoney. It is his 2nd consecutive Stakes win having won over 7.5f in a cracking 111 rating last start. Todays time of 1:8:8 gives him a rating of 110 which is his fastest for the 6f trip. He is a very versatile horse that appears just as well suited at 7.5f and even 8f, as he does at todays journey. Normally such a close finish puts a query on the form out of the race, finishing in such an even bunch shows that not much separates the combatants and that racing luck may have been the deciding factor. The winner was able to give them all a massive start today so he deserves his dues, but he may not be able to in the future at these sort of distances, and a return to 7f+ may now be in order.