Former Singapore trainer Michael Freedman will send out his first starter from his new Sydney training base at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
The meeting also sees the debut of sprint ace Chautauqua’s younger half-brother Radrada in the same maiden event where Freedman starts the unraced Gold Mosa. Rarely does a restricted race at the provincials arouse such interest.
Radradra – named after Parramatta rugby league team’s flying winger – is unbeaten in two barrier trials.
Team Hawkes has influenced leading Melbourne jockey Dwayne Dunn to come to Hawkesbury for the mount; his sole ride at the meeting.
Freedman, 47 is the youngest of four brothers that make up one of Australian most successful racing famiies.
He has spent the last eight years in Singapore where he trained more than 400 winners including 12 G1 races.
Gold Mosa and another debutant Made In China will be his first runners since his return to Australia.
Freedman never previously held a licence until he began training in Singapore as he was heavily involved with his brothers Lee (head trainer), Anthony and Richard during their successful Melbourne training partnership.
The team was known as the FBI (Freedman Brothers Incorporated).
“It was the right time to return to Australia for a couple of reasons,” Freedman said. “Schooling back here was important for our children, and also I felt after eight years in Singapore that I was ready to establish myself as a trainer at home.
“Perhaps it has taken a little longer than expected to get things in place, arranging staff and not having older horses to kick off with straight away, but everything is starting to take shape although we aren’t likely to have a lot of runners in the coming months.
“I’ve got 15 in work at Rosehill and a number of unraced young horses on our books. Obviously, I’m looking to increase that number as we get into the new season, especially with the yearlings we have bought in recent months becoming two-year-olds.”
Freedman takes Gold Mosa and Made In China to Hawkesbury on the back of both youngsters finishing second in separate Rosehill trials on March 29.
He isn’t expecting Gold Mosa to challenge the pacy Radrada, who has looked above average in dominant Rosehill trial wins on November 10 and March 29, both over 900m.
“Gold Mosa has ability, but is definitely going to be better suited once he gets to 1400m and even 2000m,” Freedman said.
“I like Made In China as a horse, but his awkward draw concerns me and it doesn’t look an easy race with several of the big stables having runners.”
