Vagrant helps ease the pain in Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes

Posted by RS NewsWire at 5:49pm on February 3rd

Vagrant has helped ease the pain for the Mitchell Freedman stable with a Stakes race victory at Caulfield.

Freedman revealed after Vagrant took out the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday that a member of the stable had been injured during the week.

“It’s been a pretty tough week at home,” Freedman said.

“We had a horse suffer a catastrophic injury and one of our really good staff members and riders got pretty badly beaten up and is at home with a sore head.

“Hopefully that puts a smile on her face, and I can’t thank the staff enough for the job they do.

“It’s a tough game and it’s great this horse was able to salute today.”

Ridden by Beau Mertens, Vagant ($5.50) completed a winning hat-trick when she scored by 1-¼ lengths from Penthouse ($5.50) with Party For One ($9) a further 1-¾ lengths away third.

It had not all been plain sailing for Freedman and his staff getting Vagrant to Saturday’s race.

He said the mare had been troubled by hind feet issues since her win at Flemington last month.

“She’s had a few problems with her feet since her last run and my farrier Stephen Burn has done a ripping job with her,” Freedman said.

“I was away in New Zealand last week and was on the phone every half-an-hour annoying them, but they did a great job getting her up to speed.

“She’s a very gritty mare. She loves winning, she’s very determined and you can’t teach that.”

With Saturday’s win at Stakes level, Freedman said he may have to rethink a trip to Tasmania with the mare.

The Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m) at Launceston later in the month was going to be Vagrant’s Grand Final, but Freedman said it may now be easier to stay at home.

“Winning that race is probably equal to winning that race in Tassie, so we’ll assess all the options,” Freedman said.

“The nominations were held over for this race. We threw her in and thought we were a chance.”

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th