The decision to miss the Benalla Cup to concentrate on a shorter race at Sandown has secured Ain’Tnodeeldun victory for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Ain’tnodeeldun was one of the favoured runners in the Benalla Cup (2100m) last Friday, but with a race in mind for the gelding at Moonee Valley later in the month, the Freedmans elected to keep the now six-year-old for Sunday’s Quayclean Handicap (1800m).
Ridden by Billy Egan, Ain’tnodeeldun was saved for a last crack at the $4.20 Dabble favourite Forget Me and got up to score by three-quarters-of-a-length with Sibaaq ($5) a short-head away third.
“We scratched from the Benalla Cup to try and keep that speed in his legs over 1800 metres,” Sam Freedman said.
“He’s going super.”
Ain’tnodeeldun was once a class three-year-old that has been beset by problems throughout his career.
He has had tendon problems and a wind operation but went back-to-back on Sunday after scoring over 1600m at Moonee Valley on September 9.
“The owners have been very patient,” Freedman said.
“It’s a big thing to have owners that patient as it is so easy to get frustrated with a horse that has needed time to get back and costs a lot of money to have in work.
“We did feel this preparation that he has come back the best he ever has.
“It was a great ride by Billy. He might have pressed the button a bit soon on the second horse, but Billy just waited, and he was strong in the end.”
Freedman said the stable had picked out the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27 as Ain’tnodeeldun’s target race for the spring.
“Over the 2040 metres at The Valley, he’s got a great record,” Freedman said.
“He’s a hard horse to travel. He’s had a wind op and if we put him on a float for a long time, he can fill up with a bit of mucus.
“All the team at Flemington and Pincecliff have done a great job, and he is a stable favourite.”