Point Barrow delights connections with thrilling Red Roses win
Anthony and Sam Freedman were delighted with Point Barrow after she delivered a thrilling victory in the Red Roses Stakes at Flemington on Thursday.
“She’s shown herself to have a nice change-up speed anyway, but she’s still doing a bit wrong,” Sam Freedman said.
“She got a bit keen in the early stages, that’s part of the reason we came today rather than throwing her in the deep end in a race like the Coolmore. She was dominant in the end, and once she works out her craft, she’s going to be a pretty special filly hopefully.”
Freedman said it was pleasing to win a nice race in the McKenna family colours and for Janice McKenna, who was on course. Only 12 months earlier, McKenna had lost her husband Colin to brain cancer, which resulted in a number of the stock they raced together being put up for sale.
One of the horses the couple bred was Half Yours, who stormed to victory in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
“It’s really special, Janice is here today,” Freedman said. “She hasn’t been to the races so far this preparation. We had a chat this morning, and she was keen to come out here, and that’s quite emotional. I’m sure he was looking over really proud of what the filly’s done.”
Colin McKenna was a mentor for champion trainer Ciaron Maher who was on hand to congratulate Janice McKenna after the victory.
“What a horse trainer Sam Freedman is,” McKenna said. “Colin was there when we bought her and Ciaron Maher came up to congratulate us as did Calvin McEvoy and you have to remember there was no more popular person than Colin was. It’s all special to us and he will be smiling down on us.”
Freedman said Point Barrow was likely to be turned out for a spell, but would hold off on that decision until he sees how the filly recovers.
“She’s been in for a little while, and she’s taken every step forward. She came back from an injury to do this, this preparation, so I’d be inclined to go to the paddock and look towards a race like the [Robert] Sangster in the autumn,” he said.