Emma Freedman: Australian Turf Club Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival ambassador talks about her famous family and Championships Days action
Emma Freedman is keeping up a proud family tradition and champing at the bit for autumn racing carnival action.
Wentworth Courier
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She may come from Australian horse training royalty but Emma Freedman was practically an adult by the time she attended her first big race day.
“I was never actually allowed to go to the big days, whether they be Championship Days or the Melbourne Cup, until I was 16 or 17,” the daughter of renowned trainer Lee Freedman reveals.
Now, with her role on Channel 7’s race coverage team and as Australian Turf Club Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival ambassador, the busy mum of two finds she has to leave her own kids at home while she works.
Little Edie, 17 months, and Will Rundle, almost 3, who she shares with her asset manager husband Charlie, are yet to make their grand debut at a Royal Randwick race day, despite being regulars at the course. The family now call Paddington home, so it’s a short drive to the hallowed ground.
“My uncle’s (trainer Michael Freedman) stables are just across the way so we try to go every couple of weeks and get them familiar with what life in a racing family is all about,” Freedman says.
“We want them to know what horses are all about, how amazing they are, how gentle they can be, how striking they are and also just the daily happenings around a stable.
“We went the other day and they were fascinated by the farrier changing shoes on a horse. Someone else was mixing up feed and Will was asking questions about what horsies eat. He has no fear. He’s up patting every horse, he’s grabbing them by the face, he’s in there saying ‘pat more please Mummy’.
“My dad has plonked him on a horse a couple of times before and the initial face was ‘holy dooley, what’s going on here?’ and then he realised how exciting it was.
“As he gets older he might take an interest but we’re not putting any pressure on. We just want the kids to find something they enjoy as much as we love racing.”
Speaking of racing, Freedman can’t wait to get among the action at the Championships Days in April.
“The Queen Elizabeth (Stakes) will be really interesting,” she says. “We’ve just seen Zaaki, who is arguably the best or one of the best middle distance horses in the country, he just won the All-Star Mile. He will likely do battle with Verry Elleegant, who of course won the Melbourne Cup last year.
“Then in the Doncaster (Mile) my uncle (Michael Freedman) has trained a mare called Forbidden Love. She’s won two Group 1s in the last couple of weeks and she’s the favourite for the Doncaster but will be going up against I’m Thunderstruck. He comes into the Doncaster in great form, having run second in the All-Star Mile.
“Then there’s the T J Smith (Stakes), which is the big sprinters’ race, and that’s where we get to see that battle between a lot of the horses who contested The Everest last year.
“We know how big The Everest was here; well, the T J is the autumn edition of that race. Nature Strip, Eduardo, Masked Crusader, hopefully Home Affairs – it’s going to be a really jam-packed, quality two days of racing.”
Punters will be thrilled to know the highly anticipated new $46.6m Winx Stand will be open to all, including general admission, on the Championships Days. The two-storey trackside stand will be brimming with hospitality offerings, wagering options, giant screens and a DJ.
Mel Madigan, executive general manager commercial for the Australian Turf Club, says the Star Championships at Royal Randwick are two of the most anticipated carnival days on the Australian racing calendar.
“The atmosphere across the entire course is guaranteed to be one of fun and celebration that will create lasting memories,” she says.
Madigan says there is a fantastic selection of off-track entertainment.
“Our popular After the Last concert series will feature live performances by high-energy Australian indie pop band Sheppard and globally acclaimed ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again,” she says.
“The Styled with Dyson Marquee will offer complementary hair styling … and we have an array of on-course activations to enjoy including the Furphy Terrace Bar, Canadian Club Precinct, Grainshaker Precinct, Destination Chandon, Aperol Combi Van, Schweppes Cocktail Cart … Plus musical acts including DJs, saxophone players and vocalists will ensure the vibe is buzzing.
“Fashion-focused racegoers are encouraged to embrace the unique style of carnival and have some fun by entering the national digital Fashion Stakes and Longines Prize for Elegance competitions.”
Racegoers are encouraged to stick to the traditional derby day dress code of black and white on April 2 while the following weekend fashionistas are gearing up to unleash a sea of colour.
While Freedman will be hard at work on race days, she’s not missing out on all the fun.
“On the second day of the Championships we’re going out for dinner with my Channel 7 colleague Katie Mallyon and her partner James McDonald (who rode Verry Elleegant to victory in the Melbourne Cup last year),” she says.
“So we will celebrate the Championships that night but for all of us really it’s work time. Whether you’re a jockey, a trainer, someone who works for the race club or is on air with broadcasting, you put a lot of time and effort into these big days.”
But once a Freedman, always a Freedman, and she wouldn’t have it any other way: “They say in my family racing is a disease that takes over your body. It’s very hard to kick.”
The Star Championships Days will be held at Royal Randwick Racecourse on April 2 and 9. Tickets are available at australianturfclub.com.au
SHOOT CREDITS
Dress: Leo & Lin
Headwear: Somewhere Here
Styled by: Donny Galella
Hair & Make up: Brooke Low
Timepiece: Longines
Horse & jockey: Anthony Cummings-trained Skyhawk with Group 1 jockey Sam Clipperton.
Chef: Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival Culinary Ambassador, Executive Chef of The Star’s BLACK Bar & Grill, Dany Karam.
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