Horses run in the family: Without A Fight co-trainers Sam and Anthony Freedman write a new chapter for family dynasty

Fittingly, it was Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman who was the first to ring nephew Sam following Without A Fight’s Melbourne Cup victory.

Uncle Lee Freedman, a five-time Melbourne Cup winner, was the first to ring nephew Sam after he wrote the latest chapter in the family tradition on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.

Father Anthony, who played an integral role in brother Lee’s success, followed suit with a trademark understatement.

After winning the Caulfield Cup last start, Anthony message to Sam to describe Without A Fight’s win was “that was good”.

The notorious race day recluse was marginally more expressive.

“He gave me a ‘that was pretty good today’,” Sam said after a surreal Melbourne Cup victory.

“As Mark (Zahra) knows, he (Anthony) was very measured, he’s been there and done it, but I think for him it’s great to have his name on this.

“He was a part of when Lee was having a lot of success and I’m sure it means a lot to him, even though he won’t say it, it will mean a lot to win one now.”

• ‘Told you so’: How Zahra masterminded 44-year Melbourne Cup first

Trainer Sam Freedman and jockey Mark Zahra celebrate Without A Fight’s Melbourne Cup win. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake / Getty Images

• How a Queenlsand winter transformed Without A Fight

Sam was nine-years-old when legend Makybe Diva won her incomparable third straight Melbourne Cup – second in a row for Lee and his fifth overall.

Lee, the figurehead of Freedman Brothers Incorporated, which took in brothers Anthony, Richard and Michael, won the Cox Plate, Victoria Derby, Melbourne Cup and Victoria Oaks in 2005.

“He (Lee) was an amazing mentor from a very young age, both he and dad – and much like dad and I now – they bicker and fight,” Sam said.

“It comes from the right place but Lee was the first one to call me straight after the race to say ‘congratulations, enjoy it’, I think, hopefully, he would be pretty proud.”

Freedman Brothers Incorporated: (from left) Lee, Richard, Michael and Anthony Freedman with Melbourne Cup queen Makybe Diva.

Sam on Tuesday revealed Without A Fight, the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double, went into the first spring major under a cloud.

“He actually had a better lead up to this race than he probably did for the Caulfield Cup,” Sam said.

“Mark didn’t know everything but his lead up wasn’t perfect going into it (Caulfield), so when he won it was a real ‘this horse might be something pretty freakish’ (moment) because we knew there was going to be improvement heading into this race.”

Mark Zahra urges Without A Fight to the line in the 2023 Melbourne Cup. Picture: George Sal / Racing Photos

• Zahra goes right way after $220,000 decision

The Melbourne Cup is the sixth Group 1 the father-son training combination in only their fourth full season together, a haul which includes two Blue Diamond Stakes and an Australian Cup.

“It feels a bit surreal, it feels like a bit of dream,” Sam said.

“You grow up watching these races and dreaming one day you’ll have a horse good enough to do it, it’s felt out of reach, to be honest.

“We’re not a massive stable and we probably keep our numbers to about 80 horses in work, so your chances of getting a horse (like this) is pretty special.”

Originally published as Horses run in the family: Without A Fight co-trainers Sam and Anthony Freedman write a new chapter for family dynasty