How a missed flight delivered a Melbourne Cup win

In the sixteen hours since Without A Fight saluted in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), co-trainer Sam Freedman was yet to have a moment to himself to reflect fully on the achievement.

Accepting that chaos of the good kind follows winning Australia’s most famous race, the 27-year-old stood together with the horse the day among the two newest names to be etched into racing folklore.

Bright, enough, after a relatively early night, Freedman and Without A Fight were both fresh in the beachside stable property sunlight.

“We’re reflecting on what was a pretty amazing day yesterday,” Freedman said.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in but we’ll enjoy it over the last couple of weeks.”

Most positively, the six-year-old gelding has pulled up well in the hours after.

“He’s very fresh. He was a bit of a handful before and he’s trotted up super this morning,” Freedman added.

“He’ll have a break now but he’s a horse that loves being in work and loves what he does so we’ll see how he goes in the paddock.

“He was ready for yesterday.”

Co-training Without A Fight with his father, the significance of Anthony’s involvement along with three of his uncles – headed by Lee Freedman – coming together to train five Melboure Cup winners is not lost on him.

“I think for my ‘old man’ it was a pretty significant day for him,” he said.

“He was behind the scenes for the five Melbourne Cups and I think to have his name on one, he wouldn’t make it well known, but it was special for him yesterday.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them.

“They paved the way and I feel very privileged and humbled to be where I am.”

“No one was prouder and happier for Dad and I than Lee.”

University-educated, Sam acknowledged the serendipity of life in contributing to the win.

“There were a lot of sliding doors moments,” he said.

“I was going to England for a year to play cricket for a season and enjoy myself.

“I worked at Godolphin pre-training while I was over there and then moved to Roger Varian’s stable.

“I missed my flight home at the end of the cricket season and ended up staying another year, which was actually how I ended up meeting Skeikh Mohammed Obaid,” referencing Without A Fight’s owner and breeder.

Earning his own place as a trainer was not a given, as far as he was concerned. Most of all, having a famous Australian racing name may have been a disadvantage.

“Coming from another racing family, it was difficult for me to expect to go and work for another trainer in Melbourne or Sydney and be shown how they do it.

“Going over to Roger and being treated as any other staff member starting from the bottom, it was significant for me to learn a whole lot of different things and grow a passion for it.

“There’s a lot of little moments that culminated in this win.”

A shot at the 2024 Melbourne Cup is not out of the question but the horse’s health and progress focuses the conversation.

“I can’t see why not,” Freedman added.

“He’s a nice, sound horse and as long as he’s still sound and well and enjoying his racing, that is the important thing.

“He’s loving his racing and you know when he does.

“I saw the handicapper on the way out of Flemington and asked if we could have the same weight next year.”