| Outstanding mare Deny Knowledge provided her new connections with a jackpot result when she scored a dashing win in today’s $1 million Group One Might and Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. |
| A relative newcomer to the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable after being purchased from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May, Deny Knowledge upset the favourite Mr Brightside with a brilliant win. A daughter of Pride of Dubai, Deny Knowledge was sent out one of the leading each way chances following an eye catching first up fifth in the recent Underwood Stakes over 1800 metres. The front running mare established a sizeable margin during the middle stages of the race and still had plenty left when the challengers came in the straight. At the post she held a three quarter length margin. A key to Deny Knowledge hitting a new peak level was teaching her to settle more in her favoured on speed role. “You watch all her replays and you’ve got to identify their assets and their flaws,” co-trainer Sam Freedman said. “I think this asset was probably her flaw as well, that she could get to the front and she was running through the bridle a touch.” “Henry, our track rider up in Queensland, did a lot of work on her, just getting her to relax and switch off and then be able to quicken when you want her to.” Freedman was delighted with the ride from proven big race rider Mark Zahra. “She was tardy at the gates the other day so we got a man on her tail today and he’s a great rider, he can adapt.” “We actually discussed it before the race to say, this isn’t your style, you’re not this sort of rider, you’re going to have to adapt and roll along.” “We were confident in the way the track was playing for the first few races. We needed her to be prepared against all these, take advantage of that. I think she’s classier than probably people give her credit.” “Her run in the Underwood was very good, she took off early and was still there fighting it out towards the finish.” “And look, we may back up next week if she pulls up well, maybe the frontrunner in the Caulfield Cup, yeah, why not?” Freedman said he was leaning toward the Caulfield Cup over the Cox Plate – but suggested even Australia’s most famous staying contest could be a possibility. “I think the Caulfield Cup maybe slightly more likely (than the Cox Plate). Who knows, she’s relaxing well enough, she might have a crack at a Melbourne Cup, it looks like she may be getting tired on the line, but she’ll sustain that same gallop for a very long time.” Deny Knowledge joined the Freedman stable after she was purchased for $500,000 by Yu Long’s Panthalassa Syndicate at May’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast. “She arrived to us in great order from Mick Kent, she’s a well-performed mare, she won a Matriarch, so we’ve had a very good product to work with.” “We sort of just tinkered with a few things in training just to get her to switch off and relax, and that’s been the key.” “I think Pinecliff’s been a huge part of it, and Anthony had her up there in Queensland looking after the team, and he rang me and said, this mare will love Pinecliff.” “So she came down, she gets a paddock during the day for a few hours, she just chills out, and that’s been a big part of it. So I think without that property, it might have been a difficult situation to get her to where she is now, and it’s a privilege to train her.” “She’s a high-energy mare, she’s pretty sound, she handles her racing really well, and we’ll obviously monitor her closely over the week to see how she comes through it. But all being well, she’ll certainly line up here.” Winning rider Mark Zahra said the dashing tactics adopted to bring down her rivals, headlined by Mr Brightside, proved decisive. “That was the plan, that was the only chance. You know, she actually jumped well today and I was able to get there and she wasn’t overdoing it, she was just happy.” “When we straightened up and I gave her one, she responded well and Mr Brightside, he’s probably sick of chasing these tearaway front runners, but I thought around Caulfield he might be a bit susceptible over 2000.” “The track’ s obviously a bit leader-ish today, but all credit to her, it was a good win.” “Anthony and Sam and the staff have done a great job getting her right, you know, she seems to cruise along a bit nicer in front now and Yu Long bought her and they’re getting repaid, so well done to everyone,” Zahra added. Deny Knowledge, who won a swag of races for her original connections including a Group Two Matriarch Stakes and Group Three Belle of the Turf Stakes, now sports the famous emerald green colours of Yu Long Investments. She won a Grafton Cup at her second start for new connections and today was just her fourth start for the Freedman stable. A daughter of Street Cry’s Blue Diamond Stakes winning son Pride of Dubai, Deny Knowledge is from a winning Manduro half sister to former crack globetrotting stayer Big Orange. Big Orange won nine races including a Royal Ascot Gold Cup and is known in Australia for placing in a Zipping Classic. Also in the family is another globetrotting staying sensation, Red Cadeaux – who famously was third in three Melbourne Cups. Winner: Deny Knowledge Breeding: Pride of Dubai-The Paris Shrug (Manduro) Race: MRC Might and Power Stakes G1 (2000m) Sold for: $500,000 Sale: 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale Earnings: $1,549,692 Breeder: Mylestown Farms Ltd Vendor: Newgate Consignment (As Agent) Buyer: Panthalassa Syndicate Owners: Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang) Trainer(s): Anthony & Sam Freedman (Mornington) |
