Latest news with #WithoutAFight
Sydney Morning Herald
01-08-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Horse racing: Godolphin Australia and James Cummings part ways, launching new era with the likes of Chris Waller, Ciaron Maher, Anthony Freedman
Cummings, the grandson of Melbourne Cup legend Bart, has accepted a lucrative training position in racing mecca Hong Kong from next year. Of Godolphin's headline horses, the group 1-winning Tom Kitten has been placed with Anthony and Sam Freedman, Melbourne Cup fourth-place getter Zardozi has joined Maher, Golden Mile went to Pride, while Waller also picked up Commemorative and Beiwacht. Godolphin trainer James Cummings with retired star Anamoe. Credit: Louise Kennerley Several of the Godolphin horses have already trialled for their new stables. As part of its shift in approach, Godolphin sold 25 ready-to-race horses for almost $2.2 million on Inglis Digital a fortnight ago, including South Australian Derby place-getter Lavalier for $380,000 and group 3-winner Pisces for $330,000. While the father-son Freedman combination has prepared a number of young horses for Godolphin in the past, including 2022 Blue Diamond winner Daumier, Sam Freedman sees the racing giant's change in strategy as a winning move. 'It's an exciting change for the whole Godolphin brand, and exciting for Australian racing to see their stock spread out,' Freedman said. Sam Freedman with the 2023 Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight. Credit: Getty Images 'I have no doubt it will be a success. There's obviously a lot to work through and there will be little hiccups on the way, I'm sure, but on the whole it feels like a really positive change. 'I think, ultimately, the one-trainer model is becoming more and more rare.' While Freedman said they did not lobby for any horses, they felt privileged to be handed ready-made group 1 star Tom Kitten. Loading 'He'd be the highest-rated horse we've got,' the 2023 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer said. 'As an established weight-for-age horse, he's right at the top. 'It's very rare that you get a horse like that in the stable that's able to compete from 1400m to 2000m at weight-for-age against the best horses in the country. It's exciting.' Freedman said the four-year-old gelding would likely resume in the group 1 1400m Memsie Stakes At Caulfield on August 30 before heading to the group 1 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington a fortnight later. 'If he's really flying along, and it looks like a realistic target, that could mean he'll line up in the Cox Plate,' Freedman said. 'But his first two runs are sort of pencilled in, and then we are just going to assess him after that.' Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv and racing and bloodstock manager Jason Walsh oversaw the mass relocation of their horses. 'It certainly wasn't an easy decision, and it doesn't preclude opportunities for others (trainers) in the future,' Makiv said. Godolphin's breeding arm Darley will continue to stand stallions, including those that raced during Cumming's tenure such as Anamoe, Bivouac, Broadsiding and Cylinder. But their number of runners has fallen away significantly in recent years. After a high of 1276 starters in the 2018/19 season, those figures have dropped to 804 in 2023/24 and 680 last season. But Makiv denied this will be an ongoing trend. 'Moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility,' he said at the end of April. 'We will continue to have the same number of horses in training — it's fundamental to what we do.' News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight suddenly retires after trial race
Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight — who was preparing for a winter campaign in Brisbane — has suddenly been retired. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained import narrowly won a 1500m trial at Caulfield Heath on Thursday morning, but soon after the call was made to retire the gelding. Without A Fight was united with jockey Mark Zahra (who famously rode him at Flemington and Caulfield in 2023) at the trial yesterday. But it has been reported that he suffered a bleed afterwards which forced the trainers to take immediate action. Without A Fight won the 2023 Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double to etch his name into racing history and, in a statement, Anthony and Sam Freedman said it had been a privilege to train the gelding for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. Having started his career in the UK with Simon and Ed Crisford, Without A Fight came to Australia to run in the 2022 Melbourne Cup, finishing 13th behind Gold Trip. Left in the care of the father-and-son Freedman training duo, Without A Fight won the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup and Group 2 Q22, both at Eagle Farm, the following winter before embarking on his successful 2023 spring campaign that saw him complete the Cups double. Without A Fight spent the majority of 2024 on the sidelines following a tendon injury, returning for a third-place finish behind Via Sistina in the Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington last November before a trip to Hong Kong that saw the gelding beat one runner home in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) the following month, his final race start. Thursday's trial at Caulfield Heath had been in preparation for a trip to Brisbane where Without A Fight held an entry in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday week. 'He has been an absolute gentleman to have in the stable and will be remembered as one of the finest stayers of his generation,' the Freedman's said in a statement. 'His Cups double not only delivered the pinnacle of our training careers but also created unforgettable memories for all involved – from our dedicated track riders, stable hands, vets, farriers, to those at the spelling farms. 'He has left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to be a part of his journey. 'We extend our heartfelt thanks to his owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, for entrusting us with the privilege of training such a remarkable horse in Australia. We are truly indebted to him for the opportunity. 'As Without A Fight begins the next chapter of his life, we wish him the very best in his retirement. 'He has given us all so much – and for that, we are forever grateful.' It is a sad and unceremonious end to a spectacular career. The news also left racing fans with a heavy heart. 'Sad news, dead set superstar in his prime,' one fan said on social media. And another: 'Sad how it all ended. Tarnished his legacy.' Without A Fight retires having registered 11 wins from his 24 starts with career prize money of just over $9.7 million.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne Cup champ Without A Fight retired
Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight has been retired. Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman announced the decision on Thursday. Former international Without A Fight, who famously completed the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double in 2023, joined the Freedman yard in 2022. 'He has been an absolute gentleman to have in the stable and will be remembered as one of the finest stayers of his generation,' Freedman Racing said in a statement. 'His Cups double not only delivered the pinnacle of our training careers but also created unforgettable memories for all involved. 'He has left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to be part of his journey.' Without A Fight was ridden out to win a 1500m trial at Caulfield Heath on Thursday morning. He placed third in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) last November at Flemington – his last Australian start – after a 12-month injury break following a tendon injury and rehabilitation. ðŸ'½ @10SportAU | #MelbourneCup — Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 7, 2023 Without A Fight contested the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) last December but was unplaced. The $9.9m prizemoney earner won 11 of 25 career starts including four of seven with Freedman. 'As Without A Fight begins the next chapter of his life, we wish him the very best in his retirement,' Freedman Racing said. 'He has given us all so much – for that, we are forever grateful.' His Australian record included wins in the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup and Group 2 Q22 in Brisbane.
