Shoals sister breaks maiden, eyes Queensland

4 min read

By Bren O'Brien

A trip to the Queensland winter carnival could be on the cards for the Anthony Freedman-trained filly Tides (Fastnet Rock), who broke her maiden with some comfort at Bendigo on Tuesday.

The 3-year-old full sister to triple Group 1 winning mare Shoals was having her second start and her first since September and returned to the track by sitting outside the pace throughout and winning by 0.8l over the 1300m.

Assistant trainer Sam Freedman said that while the margin wasn't big, he was pleased to see Tides get her first win under her belt.

"She's done a good job. She's one that we wouldn’t mind getting out in trip now and she probably raced like that. When Mark (Zahra) went for her, she took a little gathering together and her best work was through the line," he said.

"She's been a filly that Jonathan Munz and John Messara have been really patient with and it’s a pleasure having a horse like her in our stable with her pedigree. Obviously, being the full sister to Shoals, everything she does on the track is a big bonus."

"She's one that we wouldn’t mind getting out in trip now and she probably raced like that." - Assistant trainer, Sam Freedman

"It’s good to see her have a clear run at them and hopefully she can go on from here."

Jockey Mark Zahra, who rode Shoals on six occasions for three wins, said there were a few key similarities between Tides and her older sister.

"She's a bit like the rest of the family. They are a bit quirky and do just what they have to. She showed a bit of dash and she always travelled well and she gave a little kick. She was never going to race away from them, but she did what she had to," he said.

"I think she's a bit better than maiden grade. The family is always a bit funny, they only ever do what they have to whether it be a big race or a not such big race. She's a lovely filly who can go on."

Tides following her maiden win at Bendigo

Freedman revealed post-race that depending on how Tides pulled up from the win, she may be headed toward races in Brisbane over a longer distance.

"It’s really about keeping her sound and getting her up in trip. She might find herself in Queensland or something like that. But we’ll get her home and see how she pulls up and make a plan from there," he said.

"We’ll get her home and see how she pulls up and make a plan from there." - Sam Freedman

Anthony Freedman also has the younger full-brother, Groundswell, in his stable, who topped last year's Easter Sale at $2.3m. The Broken Shore's yearling colt by Medaglia D'Oro (USA) was privately syndicated and will go into training with Chris Waller.

Earlier at Bendigo, Moldova became Snitzel's 14th individual 2-year-old winner of the season when she led from the front to win the 2YO Fillies Maiden by 2.75l under Damien Oliver for Danny O'Brien.

She was passed in at last year's Magic Millions Sale for $380,000 and was retained to race by Tony Santic's Makybe Racing. Her dam La Flourescent (NZ) (General Nediym) is a half-sister to Group winners Savvy Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) and Addictive Nature (NZ) (Savabeel).

At Hawkesbury, Chelsea Reign gave first-season sire Rubick his ninth individual winner for the season, when she broke her maiden at her third start.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, she was an $80,000 buy from the 2018 Classic Sale for Triple Crown Syndications, and is the first foal from Chelsea Hotel (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), a daughter of American Group winner Chelsey's Image {USA}) (Holy Bull {USA}).

Rubick trails only Better Than Ready in terms of the amount of individual winners for a freshman sire.