From damaged goods to Melbourne Cup 2023 hero: How a Queensland winter transformed Without A Fight

He rolled into Eagle Farm with his reputation damaged and his tail between his legs. A fortnight later, Without A Fight was racing’s next big thing.

Without A Fight transformed himself in Queensland during the winter. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.

Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight looked anything but that when he rolled into Brisbane as damaged goods after being beaten 20 lengths in last year’s Cup.

Brought out to Australia as a live chance in the race that stops the nation 12 months ago, Without A Fight struggled through the soft Flemington track for English trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, but was reborn on the firm Eagle Farm surface in May.

Sent out a $9 chance behind Luncies, Without A Fight announced himself as the new kid on the block in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup over 1800m.

Even his new trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman couldn’t have dreamt of what was to come.

Without A Fight played second fiddle to Think About It, Kovalica and Hawaii Five Oh on the Queensland Derby Day undercard.

• Melbourne Cup 2023: What the jockeys said

He was the main event five months later with a Melbourne and Caulfield Cup safe in his keeping.

The Freedmans knew they had a good horse on their hands, but even his explosiveness had them shocked that day.

“He probably showed a better turn of foot than we might have thought,” Sam Freedman said at the time.

“It could well be a Caulfield Cup or a Melbourne Cup so you’ve probably got a number of options with a horse like him.”

Without A Fight proved it was no fluke a fortnight later when he hacked up in the $1.2m Q22.

Just like two years earlier with Incentivise, Queensland had produced another staying spring star.

Without A Fight made his name in Queensland. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.

• An extraordinary ride: Without A Fight wins Melbourne Cup

At the time Freedman said that he hoped Without A Fight’s Q22 win in Queensland would “excite” big-time owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum into giving them more horses.

If The Q22 got the Sheikh excited, it’s hard to imagine what a Melbourne Cup could do for the relationship.

In a testament to time and patience, Without A Fight got his Flemington redemption on Tuesday, with just four starts between his disaster a year ago and his triumph this time around.

The humble surroundings of Eagle Farm pale in comparison to Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, but the spring plan was hatched for the Freedmans and regular jockey Mark Zahra.

A lot needs to fall into place to win a Melbourne Cup and the father and son duo produced a timed-to-the-minute performance.

Zahra has been a willing companion during his time in Australia and nailed his decision to jump off Gold Trip.

In a game of fine margins, renowned barrier rogue Soulcombe missed the kick again before flashing home for second behind Without A Fight under international superstar Joao Moreira.

The bird had flown.

If Zahra produced a Melbourne Cup masterpiece on Without A Fight from barrier 16, Beau Mertens produced the ride of his life on $151 outsider Sheraz from 22 to run third.

Eight-year-old Ashrun produced a fairytale of his own, running fourth after three years off the scene due to tendon issues.

Filling the top six placings, Australian trainers got their revenge in the race which has been pilfered by Europeans for the best part of three decades as the Irish brigade of Vauban and Abusrde ran out of gas halfway up the Flemington straight.

Joining a Freedman dynasty, which has no shortage of Melbourne Cup glory, Without A Fight is the latest chapter in a remarkable journey.

Originally published as From damaged goods to Melbourne Cup 2023 hero: How a Queensland winter transformed Without A Fight