A WEEKLY REVIEW: The Good The Bad The Ugly

Lee Freedman’s recent retirement as clan leader could contribute to the prediction made over 25 years ago on 2KY’s Turf Time that his younger brother Michael would become the greatest Freedman of them all.

Perhaps it was said in jest with Lee being so prominent but the field has become even stronger as more Freedmans emerge.

For a couple of decades, starting in the 1980’s prior to partnerships, the FBI or Freedman Brothers Incorporated, were a major racing influence.

Slick with a sentence and uncanny horse-sense, Lee, the elder, was followed by extrovert Richard, so polished before a camera he could have fronted A Current Affair, while Anthony, an introvert was strong in a silent capacity.

As younger brothers often are, Michael trailed, as no doubt, the present Will did behind father Richard and Anthony with Sam. But the younger generation is following in the family hoof-prints. Will and Richard scored with Cold Brew at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and Anthony with Sam is hard to beat.

Now Lee, 68, will become stable manager for Michael on the Gold Coast where Lee trained previously.

Easy vicinity to Brisbane continues to attract major outfits from the south. Chris Waller and Kris Lees years back opened a branch on the Gold Coast.

Perhaps the answer lies with David Vandyke, a Group one winning trainer when based in Sydney but left, telling me, his horses could be better placed giving clients a superior return there.

Vandyke moved to the Sunshine Coast from whence he has thrived. On Saturday at Eagle Farm, he prepared Tuff Tu Mus to win his seventh consecutive race, a restricted class event worth $85,000, not peanuts but hardly an enticing carrot.

Saturday’s Rosehill majors were $160,000, small change considering Lee Freedman’s gravy train that gained him 127 Group one successes before the “drought”, explained by Matt Stewart in the Winning Post recently. Stewart put it down to “someone challenged by personal demons”.

Being fortunate to see the champions of the era, Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings, up close and personal, and Waller who followed none handled outstanding horses nor the pressure than comes with them better than Lee Freedman.

Under his care Makybe Diva justifiably carried the champion title, the equal of Winx, and Super Impose, earned the rating of Australia’s greatest miler for Freedman before Winx. And there were many others.

Lee Freedman is special. It will be argued he had the assistance of his brothers, but the buck ended with him. Pressure galore. Whether to run Makybe Diva in the third Melbourne Cup or take safe options?

“Phar Lap never won three Melbourne Cups,” he declared going into the Flemington enclosure after the triumph.

Obviously, the brothers and nephews are doing well, and will get better. Michael is showing all the family attributes. But The Freedman, for me, will always be Lee.

Which was good as was the food at Alpha last week for the Trainer’s Luncheon, a Richard Callander promotion.

Ancient media Ken Callander and myself were seated at a long table with Pat Webster, Warwick Farm stalwarts Paul Cave and Ron Lemon, as well as Ron Quinton and Gerald Ryan.

Tales became taller as the beer, a special Lager brewed for Alpha, took effect and the aged group eyed the youngsters, freshly out of kindergarten, at the other end. “Did we ever look that young?” was the question.

Quinton certainly did not. I was at Kembla Grange when he rode his first winner. He hasn’t changed much. Webster carries more condition, assisted in recent years by Happy Clapper, but when he came from the bush as an apprentice jockey he had a lean and hungry look.

Ryan was foaled seasoned; Cave still retains an Irish accent, survived an Aussie education from the late education from Tony Wildman, who in return he tutored to ride horses over hurdles.

Lemon did so well with Manawanui, a classy three-year-old of his season, sidelined as a school teacher and has the Warwick Farm blossom so evident with Joe Pride and Bjorn Baker.

Callander retains the enthusiasm of the young reporter who sang the praises of Magpie Mick Lubinscus, while the tabloid hack (yours truly), albeit sour and embittered from losing, was still intrigued by tales that flowed of the era. We have had the best of the turf.  Down the track in a half century will the youth at the opposite end of the table have it so good?

Ugly? The final tally of the Broncos – South Sydney clash last Friday but the enthusiasm was still strong, particularly with captain courageous Jai Arrow.

A few years back Arrow was at Randwick races and my then colleague at the Sydney Morning Herald, Christian Nicolussi, wrote that he was my “favourite” player.

Nicolussi was rebuked. At that stage Arrow, in my assessment, was below Cameron Murray, Campbell Graham and Tom Burgess. But now?

With the recent blood and guts efforts I am thinking more John Sattler and George Piggins putting Arrow in a special category: hitting the opposition hard, in attack and defence, and never stopped trying.

Even when the Broncos had notched over a half century Arrow came across with a cover tackle. South Sydney is depleted with injuries but not spirit. Travis Duncan made defence mistakes and why wouldn’t he? Consider his workload. I am looking for a horse with Duncan’s heart. And Jai Grey, the smallest on the field, continued to spark despite a battering.

Every time Adam Reynolds, our Adam Reynolds, wearing the wrong colours, handled the ball and kicked I winched. How did we let him go?

Anyway Latrell Mitchell is due back shortly and so look forward to the same commitment from him. Coach Wayne Bennett gives the impression Mitchell is his “favourite” South Sydney player.