Freedman ready to unleash Ninja warrior after impressive trial wins
The youngster is unbeaten in his two trials, the latest where he ran down subsequent winner Nazwah, but Freedman said he's not yet a well-oiled machine and will learn plenty in the TAB Plate (1100m).
'He's still very much learning about things and doing a few things wrong, but he's ready to go to the races and probably just needs to get going,' he said.
'He's obviously shown some raw ability. I think he's one of those horses that once he starts to put it all together can continue to improve.
'He just needs to learn to do things the right way, the only way we're going to do that is to get him off to the races and learn his craft a bit.'
What Ninja did show in his latest trial, despite being slowly away, was a handy turn of foot as he swept home from the back.
Freedman said he'd like to think the gelding, who cost $380,000 as a yearling, can put himself in a more prominent position from a soft barrier draw.
'Around the Kenso, if he can jump cleanly you wouldn't want to be dragging him back,″ he said.
'If he can make use of that lower draw you'd like to think he can put himself on speed somewhere.'
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The Age
15-07-2025
- The Age
Freedman ready to unleash Ninja warrior after impressive trial wins
He's not quite the sleek, stealthy, horse that his name would suggest just yet but trainer Michael Freedman says it's time to see what Ninja can do on the race track at Kensington on Wednesday. The youngster is unbeaten in his two trials, the latest where he ran down subsequent winner Nazwah, but Freedman said he's not yet a well-oiled machine and will learn plenty in the TAB Plate (1100m). 'He's still very much learning about things and doing a few things wrong, but he's ready to go to the races and probably just needs to get going,' he said. 'He's obviously shown some raw ability. I think he's one of those horses that once he starts to put it all together can continue to improve. 'He just needs to learn to do things the right way, the only way we're going to do that is to get him off to the races and learn his craft a bit.' What Ninja did show in his latest trial, despite being slowly away, was a handy turn of foot as he swept home from the back. Freedman said he'd like to think the gelding, who cost $380,000 as a yearling, can put himself in a more prominent position from a soft barrier draw. 'Around the Kenso, if he can jump cleanly you wouldn't want to be dragging him back,″ he said. 'If he can make use of that lower draw you'd like to think he can put himself on speed somewhere.'
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Freedman ready to unleash Ninja warrior after impressive trial wins
He's not quite the sleek, stealthy, horse that his name would suggest just yet but trainer Michael Freedman says it's time to see what Ninja can do on the race track at Kensington on Wednesday. The youngster is unbeaten in his two trials, the latest where he ran down subsequent winner Nazwah, but Freedman said he's not yet a well-oiled machine and will learn plenty in the TAB Plate (1100m). 'He's still very much learning about things and doing a few things wrong, but he's ready to go to the races and probably just needs to get going,' he said. 'He's obviously shown some raw ability. I think he's one of those horses that once he starts to put it all together can continue to improve. 'He just needs to learn to do things the right way, the only way we're going to do that is to get him off to the races and learn his craft a bit.' What Ninja did show in his latest trial, despite being slowly away, was a handy turn of foot as he swept home from the back. Freedman said he'd like to think the gelding, who cost $380,000 as a yearling, can put himself in a more prominent position from a soft barrier draw. 'Around the Kenso, if he can jump cleanly you wouldn't want to be dragging him back,″ he said. 'If he can make use of that lower draw you'd like to think he can put himself on speed somewhere.'
The Australian
28-06-2025
- The Australian
Two-year-old colt Sonofkirk has stable excited for future after ‘phenomenal win' at Caulfield
Sonofkirk narrowly prevailed in the battle of two tribes when he overcame a slow start to score at Caulfield on Saturday. Both Sonofkirk and the runner-up Oyster Lane had hordes of owners supporting their charges in the Vale Snitzel (1000m) in a great advertisement of the egalitarian nature of Australian racehorse ownership. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Sonofkirk was the last to leave the barrier but first past the post as a sharp turn of foot from the 250m enabled the colt to grab Oyster Lane on the line, denying the Ciaron Maher-trained colt a debut win with jockey Jye McNeil aboard. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Sonofkirk ($4.20) was also slow away before running on strongly to finish third to the promising Miss Ole at Flemington on debut three weeks earlier. Race experience didn't help Sonofkirk's barrier habits but the Freedmans' racing manager Billie Rodda said the son of Caulfield Guineas winner Ole Kirk was able to get himself out of trouble. 'He didn't jump very well again today, the same as he did at his first start down the Flemington straight, but we were just pleased to get a good result,' Rodda said. 'We purely put it down to just rawness and being his first start. 'We came here today in hope that he would jump a little bit better but he didn't. 'But it didn't matter in the end. 'It was a phenomenal win. A super turn of foot so we're very happy.' Sonofkirk was a $65,000 weanling purchase but took his earnings to more than $95,000 in two starts despite his slow starts. Winning jockey Jye McNeil. Picture: Getty Images Rodda said the youngster had the scope to improve with a little more education heading into his spring three-year-old season. 'We'll get him home and see that he's pulled up right but he's obviously a lovely two-year-old to take into the early spring races as an early three-year-old,' Rodda said. 'He may go away now but coming into a three-year-old season, the fact that he's still doing so much wrong gives us the confidence to know that he's a nice horse going forward. 'After doing it a second time today, we may take him home and do a little bit of barrier education work. 'He's got a very sharp turn of foot. So as long as he's producing that late, it's not costing him too much.' The Maher-trained Life After Love made an encouraging debut when belying her $71 starting price to grab third. Life After Love got a long way back but ran on well between horses in the straight to take third ahead of the Lindsay Park-trained Hello Romeo, who was the best of the on-pace runners.
