Written by Paul Vettise
A colt bought at the lower end of the market is on target to challenge his higher-priced counterparts in next month’s $1.5 million G1 Blue Diamond S.
The unbeaten Free Of Debt (Unencumbered) isn’t among the entries for the Caulfield 2-year-old feature, but another bold showing in three weeks’ time will persuade his connections to part with a $55,000 late nomination fee.
The youngster continues to put forward a compelling argument for his inclusion after backing up a debut win on his home track at Morphettville with a dashing, if wayward, win in the Duane Rogers Plate at Flemington.
“He had some handy horses behind in Adelaide and again at Flemington so he deserves his chance,” trainer Chris Bieg said.
“We’ll have a go at the Prelude and see how he handles Caulfield.” – Chris Bieg.
“We’ll have a go at the Prelude and see how he handles Caulfield. If he runs well again we’ll go to the Blue Diamond.
“I’ve had the vet go over him and he’s got the tick of approval from him, the horse has pulled up super. I’ll take him home and back to his normal surroundings and then come back.
“Travelling can really smarten young horses up and it would be a dream to have him in the Blue Diamond.”
Free Of Debt was bought out of Phoenix Broodmare Farm’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft for $30,000 with the colt’s syndicate of owners including his wife Sherisa and his pedigree advisor Ryan Beens.
“Ryan’s a mate from our primary school days and he’s very good on the bloodstock side of things.” – Chris Bieg.
“Ryan’s a mate from our primary school days and he’s very good on the bloodstock side of things,” Bieg said. “That’s his passion.”
“He produces a list leading into the yearlings sales and we don’t have big budgets so we get what we can.
“This colt ticked all the boxes on breeding and he’s a beautiful mover and a really athletic sort.
“It’s pretty exciting. I drove over on Thursday with Ryan and a couple of the other owners and we were talking about the Blue Diamond and then after the race we’re in the winners’ bar talking about it again.”
Free Of Debt with his connections after his Flemington win
Smart investments
Two prime examples of their successful buying strategy have been with $19,000 Inglis Weanling Sale buy Excites Zelady (Excites), a multiple stakes winner who won more than $550,000, and Dashitude (Dash For Cash).
He was plucked out of the Magic Millions Adelaide Sale for $5500 and won seven times up to Listed level to bank nearly $240,000.
Free Of Debt is the fourth winner from as many to the races for his dam Stagerush (Giant’s Causeway {IRE}), who is from the family of the Group 1 winners and successful sires Scenic (IRE) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Rainbow Quest (USA) (Blushing Groom {FR}).
He made all the running on Saturday and, despite ducking and diving in the closing stages, he still proved far superior and in the process provided jockey Jake Toeroek with his first Melbourne city winner.
“He didn’t quite know what he was doing in front and went in and out, but he was still too good.” – Jake Toeroek.
“He didn’t quite know what he was doing in front and went in and out, but he was still too good,” he said.
“Chris has stuck by me and kept putting me on when times were tough.”
Free Of Debt accounted for the raging favourite Viking Warrior (Fastnet Rock), who chased gamely but never looked likely to reel in the front-running winner.
“The winner took him out of his comfort zone and he got a bit lost,” co-trainer David Hayes said.
“I’d like to get him around a bend and he might be a 1400 metre horse. I’m sure he’s going to win a lot of races.”
