Anthony & Sam Freedman had to wait until the last race on VRC Derby Day at Flemington, but they claimed their first victory of the day in the Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes with their speedy mare, Isthmus.
The daughter of I Am Invincible was given a perfect front-running ride by Blake Shinn, who also didn’t claim his first win of the day until the final race, as she proved way too fast for her rivals over 1100m.
After jumping quickly from barrier eight, Shinn had to ask Isthmus to come back underneath him, and once she did, she settled nicely in the first four.
With the field spread across the Flemington track, Scuderia ($151) and Pharari ($8) pushed forward to shade the eventual winner and take up a slender lead.
However, as the field hit the course proper, Shinn asked for the ultimate effort, and Isthmus took over before taking off to put up a three-length margin on the rest of the field.
Kundalini ($16) and Danny’s St Darci ($23) made some ground late in the piece, but it was all honours to the winner as she kept pulling clear in the final 200m, recording a dominant 2.5-length victory paying $9 with the top Australian bookmakers.
2024 Begonia Belle Stakes replay – Isthmus
Sam Freedman represented the winning stable in the post-race interview.
“She was terrific. She copped a decent hip and shoulder last start and sort of sapped her confidence a bit, but the farriers have done a great job,” Freedman said.
“She took a few days to get over it, and she’s bounced back in great form.
“You watch them closely for a few days and make sure that they’ ve taken no ill harm from it.
“She was very sound,but you can tell she was a little bit flat afterwards, and she obviously didn’t finish off the race as well as we would have hoped.
“Our farrier flies under the radar a little bit.
“She’s not been the easiest to manage with her feet, and he’s done a terrific job, and our vet, Tom Brennan, so a big team effort.
“Paula, who looks after her, she gets quite emotional and looks after her very well.
“Being a stakes winner now makes a big difference to her page. And she’s certainly a valuable mare.
“So she’s capable of getting to the top level, we feel. And maybe it’s a Sangster in the Autumn.”
Blake Shinn was just as happy with the win.
“It’s been a good day. We’ve hit the crossbar quite a few times, but this is the best of the best, and to end it on a really good note is wonderful,” Shinn said.
“She’s possessed a lot of ability from day one.
“I rode her at first start. She’s always had a lot of ability. I take my hat off to Anthony and Sam Freedman.
“They’ve really managed her education and planning of her career really well, and to win a race on Derby Day is an indication of her ability, and I think she’s got a lot more to come.
“So great to ride a winner in these colours. There’s Jonathan Munz, Rocket Douglas. They put a lot of money into the game, and to win a race on Derby Day.
“She’s a lovely mare.”
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