Anthony and Sam Freedman on weather watch for Ballarat Cup equal favourite Ain’tnodeeldun
Anthony and Sam Freedman will be on weather watch for Ballarat Cup equal favourite Ain’tnodeeldun with the trainers eager to maintain his winning momentum.
Ain’tnodeeldun is aptly named with trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman on weather watch ahead of the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
The in-form galloper, who completed a hat-trick of wins six weeks ago, was scratched from a suitable race at Caulfield last Saturday due to a rain-affected deteriorating surface.
History could repeat seven days later with Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Sam Freedman locked on rainfall predictions.
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Between three and 30mm is forecast for Ballarat from Friday afternoon and into Saturday.
“Second week in a row,” Freedman laughed.
“He’s going super, he just needs a good track and he’ll run very well but if the rain comes we’ll pull him out again.
“He’s going so well we just don’t want to ruin that and lose his confidence on a bad (wet) track.”
Ain’tnodeeldun is a firm $5 equal favourite with TAB alongside Foxy Cleopatra with Young Werther ($5.50), Captain Envious ($7) and Red Sun Sensation ($7.50) next best.
“If it comes up in the (Saturday) morning a heavy track, we’ll just pull him out but it’s not hurting him going to the races because it’s been so long between races anyway,” Freedman said.
“It could take the edge off him.”
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Ain’tnodeeldun galloped on a treadmill last Saturday after being withdrawn as $2 favourite at Caulfield and completed trackwork at The Valley on Monday to maintain fitness.
Red Sun Sensation has raced twice since Ain’tnodeeldun nailed him on the post on October 27 at The Valley.
The Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) on Boxing Day at Caulfield is a potential fallback option for Ain’tnodeeldun should he be withdrawn again this week.
💎 MUSK CREEK WINNER!
— Musk Creek Farm (@MuskCreekFarm) October 27, 2023
Ain’tnodeeldun (Dundeel x Ain’tnofallenstar)
Three in a row for Musk Creek part-owned Ain’tnodundeel, as he charges home to victory in the G3 JRA Cup @TheValley for @FreedmanRacing. Congrats to his breeders @GlentreeTbreds and our fellow connections 🥂 pic.twitter.com/EYKakePlxU
“He’s fit, you’re having to think on your feet going to the races and not (running),” Freedman said.
“If he didn’t run Saturday there’s Benchmark 100s coming up over the next month or so, or the Lord Stakes or something like that, we’ll wait and see.
“The owners, thankfully, are the best people to train for, they just let you run your own race and supportive of whatever decisions we make.
“We’re just trying to look after him and get him to continue the win streak.”
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Declan Bates picked up the ride on Ain’tnodeeldun with Billy Egan, who has partnered the Freedman horse the past three starts, committed to Young Werther last week.
Freedman has King Of Hastings entered for the Tonks Plate (1100m) on Saturday at Ballarat but the $692,600 prizemoney earner is also no certainty to race.
“He might run he might not, his trials have been so-so, he’s ring rusty so he’s going to need a run before we see his best, but we’ve accepted to have a look,” Freedman said.
“He’s been a great horse, he owes us nothing, we just want to get him back racing at his best, if he’s not showing that we’ll have to assess where he’s at.”
King Of Hastings has raced in Sydney and Queensland exclusively since he placed third in the Tonks Plate last year.
“For whatever reason his form down here he mixes, as soon as he travels to Sydney or Queensland he puts in a good run, so he may well find himself up there,” Freedman said, with an eye on a fourth Magic Millions appearance.
“If his form warranted it, we’d take him, but he’ll have to show.”
King Of Hastings has contested the 2020 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (fourth), 2021 MM Sprint (fifth) and 2023 MM Cup (13th).
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