Inkaruna bobs into 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes contention

Daniel Moor’s dedication to riding in jump-outs at training centers, often overlooked by other jockeys, has paid off in a big way. Moor secured a late booking to ride Inkaruna in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday after Craig Williams was unable to fulfill his engagement due to illness.

Moor had previously partnered Inkaruna in a jump-out at Mornington in late December, which impressed trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman enough to offer him the ride. “I nearly missed the call,” Moor said. “I had a ute full of horse feed and was working, and luckily I got here in time. I’d had a bit to do with her in the past, and she was well worth rushing here for the ride.”

Inkaruna ($6) delivered a thrilling finish, getting her nose down on the line to defeat the $3.60 betting site favorite Sword Of Legacy by a nose, with Hot Sea ($4) a further 1-¾ lengths back in third.

Sam Freedman revealed that he and his father had been fond of Inkaruna since inspecting her as a yearling on the Gold Coast, though she initially fell outside their budget. Persistent efforts to convince Luke Wilkinson, who manages the filly for Kia Ora Stud, eventually led to the ownership group sending Inkaruna to the Freedman stable.

Despite being a handful before the race, Inkaruna showcased her class on the track. “She’s usually a calm filly, although she can have her moments every now and then, which the breed can do, but generally she’s pretty sensible,” Freedman said. “It’s her first day out, it’s a pretty hot day, she had a small saddle on as well, and when we put the rider on, she had a bit of a hump. All’s well that ends well.”

Freedman indicated that discussions with the ownership group and his team would determine whether Inkaruna progresses straight to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22. “She was actually due to jump out a couple of weeks ago, which was to be her second trial, but they got called off due to some weather,” Freedman said. “It would have put her on track for the (Blue Diamond) Preview last week, but unfortunately, she had to wait a week. I don’t really love that Chairman’s into the Diamond set-up being 1000 (metres) to 1200, but I’ll have a chat to the team, work out what we do, but there’s plenty of options here and in Sydney.”