Returning Freedman seeks to bolster Gold Coast stable at Classic Sale
The wheels are well in motion for Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman’s return to Australia from Singapore and he is hoping to source horses for his Gold Coast stable at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale that begins today.
Freedman is in the midst of winding up his Singapore training operation and this week posted an announcement on Twitter calling for expressions of interest from potential yearling buyers.
“I thought I may as well get it out there that I’m starting to look. It doesn’t guarantee that I will be buying at the sale. It will be price dependent for Brisbane horses. We are basically sourcing a bit of interest before the sale starts,” said Freedman.
Freedman has picked up some handy horses out of the Classic auction in past years, including 2002 VRC Sires Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Pillaging (Marauding).
In his assessment of this year’s catalogue, the five-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer said: “It’s about stock–standard for a Classic. I think it’s a pretty good sale, we have bought some reasonable horses there over the years. In a market that’s hot, it’s a good sale to go to.”
Freedman is booked to fly back to Australia on March 4 and, after serving a mandatory two weeks in hotel quarantine under Covid-19 restrictions, he plans to train a boutique string of 25 horses at the Gold Coast for Asian and well-established local clients.
“I don’t want to be a 100-horse stable or anything like that. A lot of clients have intimated they will have quite a few with me and my old clients in Australia will support as well,” he said.
For a number of well–thought–out strategic reasons, he’s decided to set up in Queensland.
“It’s a tough, polarised market but it always has been. There are super stables and it filters down from there,” he said.
“You have to place yourself in a good position in the market coming back from Asia. It will be a good standalone business and we are moving back to a warm climate and not a fluctuating cold climate.”
Freedman, 64, has been based in Singapore since 2017 and his exit from the region’s racing ranks is not expected to be the last. Cliff Brown also recently confirmed his plans to return home after a long and successful stint in the Lion City.
“Stay tuned, there will be more people heading back to various places. Coming back to one meeting a week here doesn’t fit my model at all,” Freedman added.
Freedman labels winning the 2019 Singapore Gold Cup (Listed, 2000m) with Mr Clint (Power) among the major highlights during his four–year stint there. He also won the Singapore trainers’ premiership in 2018.