Randwick inside mail: Michael Freedman filly Miss Fleetwood has second attempt at debut

It’s take two for a Michael Freedman filly who will make a delayed debut seven days after dislodging her rider at the barriers. Plus, Ray Thomas’ best bets and market movers.

Michael Freedman, a master trainer of two-year-olds, is adamant Miss Fleetwood has taken no harm from a pre-race incident seven days ago and is ready to make her debut in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Miss Fleetwood had been well-backed to make a race of it with boom colt Wodeton at Rosehill last week only for the filly to dislodge her rider on the way to the barriers then elude the clerk of the course for some minutes, delaying the start.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Freedman said he has “kept a close eye” on Miss Fleetwood all week and believes the filly is ready to make her presence felt on debut.

“She seems bright and happy and hasn’t missed a beat this week,’’ Freedman said from New Zealand where he is attending the Karaka Yearling Sale starting Sunday.

“When she got away at Rosehill, she didn’t overly exert herself and when we got her home she licked the bin out Saturday night. She’s good and I’m happy to run her at Randwick.’’

Miss Fleetwood has been early firmer from $11 into $9 for the two-year-old opener behind the Chris Waller-trained United States at $3.70 with Godolphin’s Beiwacht pressing at $3.80.

United States, a $1.75m yearling purchase at Magic Millions, is a colt by Snitzel who is closely related on his dam’s side to the great Redoute’s Choice, and Beiwacht is by emerging first season stallion Bivouac and is from the same family as trainer James Cummings’ top mare Colette.

But Miss Fleetwood is also well-bred by Newgate’s super sire Extreme Choice out of Group 1 winner Ruud Awakening and the filly impressed winning a Canterbury barrier trial earlier this month.

“It was a nice trial by her,’’ said Freedman who prepared Stay Inside, a son of Extreme Choice, to win the 2021 Golden Slipper.

“She is not an overly big filly but she can run a bit. She is a natural two-year-old type.’’

2YO filly Miss Fleetwood (Extreme Choice @NewgateFarm x Ruud Awakening) leads all the way and wins Heat 5 @aus_turf_club Canterbury Park 💪

T: @MFreedmanRacing
J: Tom Sherry
O/Br: @gobloodstockauspic.twitter.com/nzT19N12ST

— TTR AusNZ (@TTRAusNZ) January 8, 2025

Freedman also prepares promising two-year-olds Pallaton ($11) and Apocalyptic ($13) who are second and third favourites behind Waller’s Wodeton ($4.50) for the $5m Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 22.

“Pallaton ticking along nicely and he is heading to Silver Slipper (February 22),’’ Freedman said.

“We won’t trial him for a week or two and I feel he just needs the one trial into that race.

“Apocalyptic is doing really well and will be ready to go back to the trials in the next couple of weeks.’’

Also at Saturday’s Randwick meeting, Freedman has Queen Of The Mile ($11) in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) and Yiska ($11) and Flying Destiny ($13) in the Stud And Stable Staff Awards Handicap (1200m).

“We have put the blinkers on Queen Of The Mile,’’ Freedman said.

“She is very consistent but sometimes a bit of a change up can turn placings into a win. She is drawn nicely and has worked well in the blinkers this week.

“Yiska ran super first-up then had a horror draw at his second run and did a lot of work.

“He had a little setback after that which we had to tidy up and I thought his trial was very good the other day. This is a suitable race for him.

“Flying Destiny is always thereabouts will run his usual competitive race.’’

ROYAL RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

R1: Beiwacht $4.60-$3.80, Miss Fleetwood $11-$9

R2: Trafalgar Square $11-$7.50, Irish Bliss $15-$7.50, Piraeus $11-$9

R3: Clear Thinking $3.60-$3.10, Highway Strip $4.60-$3.40

R4: Unlimited $4.60-$4.40, Agita $6-$5

R5: Don Diego De Vega $2.50-$2.30 with a bet of $7000 at $2.60

R6: Point And Shoot $$6-$3.30 after a $2200 wager at $3.60, Imposant $6-$4.80, Qatar’s Choice $8-$5

R7: Cosmonova $8-$6, Husk $8-$5

R8: Headley Grange $4.60-$3 after bets of $2250 at $3.50, $2100 at $3.20, Sandpaper $6-$4.60, Statman $11-$9, Noble Conqueror $15-$11

R9: Hezdarnhottoo $6-$4, Boston Rocks $8-$6, Unstopabull $11-$7.50

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 2, 6, 9, 12

Race 2: 1, 4, 7, 8

Race 4: 4, 5, 6, 8

Race 5: 1, 2, 4, 7

QUADDIE

Race 6: 8, 11, 14

Race 7: 1, 7, 12

Race 8: 3, 6

Race 9: 4, 10, 11, 12

PRICE CHECK

Don Diego De Vega (race 5) and Headley Grange (race 8) are the two best-backed runners on the Randwick program. Don Diego De Vega is first-up but there is confident support for punters who have backed him from $2.50 to $2.30 favouritism including a big bet of $7000 at $2.60. Headley Grange was impressive at the Wyong stand-alone last start and has firmed from $4.60 to $3 after bets of $2250 at $3.50 and $2100 at $3.20.

Don Diego De Vega clinched victory at Randwick! Phenomenal performance. 🏇🏆 #HorseRacing#Winner#Randwick#DonDiegoDeVegapic.twitter.com/RPzgGGA4uv

— Australian Bloodstock Updates (@ausbloodstock2) July 17, 2024

TRIAL POINTERS

Beiwacht (race 1), from the first crop of Godolphin’s three-time Group 1 winner Bivouac who is closely related to dual Group 1 winner Colette, has been well-educated for his race debut with four barrier trials, two last spring and two this month. Beiwacht has won both his recent trials including a commanding effort at Hawkesbury last Monday. He looks a promising colt set to make his presence felt on debut.

Clear Thinking (race 3) created a huge impression winning each of her three starts in her debut race preparation last winter including an outstanding effort to overcome a troubled run to finish over the top of her rivals in a Randwick Highway. She’s resuming off a six-month spell but has shaped well in two barrier trials, particularly her recent heat win at Muswellbrook when she stormed through the field to win comfortably without being fully tested.

Some win! 🤯

Clear Thinking eventually gets clear air to storm home and claim the Highway to remain undefeated!@ZacLloydx@[e-mail]/wz0v3yyj9Z

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 6, 2024

SECTIONAL STARS

Vega Magnifico (race 5) resumed over 1500m at Randwick three weeks ago and ran a blinder when he came from last on the turn to storm down the centre of the track to score by a half-length. Vega Magnifico was able to give his rivals a start and still reeled them in when he ran his final 600m in 34.42sec.

Boston Rocks (race 9) has put together two excellent runs since resuming including his last start third at Randwick when closing late behind With Your Blessing earlier this month. Boston Rocks ripped home his final 600m in 34.05sec which was one of the fastest closing sectionals of the meeting.

BEST BET

Bonita Queen (race 7) is a very fast mare putting together a good record with four wins (and three placings) from her last seven starts. She tore around the Wyong 1100m first-up to win comfortably in fast time earlier this month and will strip fitter for this race. All her wins have been at 1100m and she has never been tested at 1200m but she is relaxing betting in her races now. Promising mare who can win again.

VALUE BET

Imposant (race 6) is bursting to win a race. She resumed at Randwick on Boxing Day and was following promising filly Tuileries through the field before finishing second then ran a similar placing behind Headley Grange at Wyong. Imposant is a little awkwardly drawn on the rails as she tends to get back in her races but only needs even luck in running. This is her chance.

Originally published as Randwick inside mail: Michael Freedman filly Miss Fleetwood has second attempt at debut