Oakleigh Plate victory makes Sam Freedman's 30th birthday special via Tropicus

Tropicus gave trainer Sam Freedman a memorable Group 1 present on his 30th birthday.

This four-year-old Too Darn Hot gelding claimed his debut top-flight win by powering clear of competitors in the $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) held at Caulfield on Saturday.

Freedman and his father Anthony, co-trainers, had Tropicus as their secondary option behind $2.60 favourite Point Barrow, with the jumper at $7.50, and the success has the trainer excited about future prospects.

"He's a proper horse, he deserves that," Freedman said.

"As a three-year-old he raced against some of the best, Broadsiding and a few really proper colts.

"He's got better as an entire and is one of those horses that just trains on and on and on.

"We've seen him get better this prep and you wouldn't rule out him going to another level again."

With 58.5kg aboard, Tropicus triumphed carrying the heaviest load to win the Caulfield sprint feature since metrics in 1973, amid a weight-heavy field.

In second, 1-1/4 lengths away, came $20 topweight Hedged (59kg), as Jedibeel ($18, 58.5kg) took fourth, beaten a long-head by Gallant Son (52kg) in third at $8.50.

Craig Williams secured his maiden Oakleigh Plate success, adding to his day's tally with the Futurity Stakes aboard Pericles, and he thanked those who selected him.

"I got given a really good gift today," he said.

"They rang me up early and said, 'We think he's the right horse for the race', my manager agreed, so he gets credit for that.

"Even his jumpouts, that I haven't been a part of, but I've watched him, they've left the headgear off him and just saved it for the race day today."

Betting for the Newmarket Handicap has Tropicus at $11 behind stablemate Tentyris, but Freedman prefers the William Reid Stakes (1200m) back at Caulfield March 21.

Discover the latest online bookmakers offering odds on Oakleigh Plate contenders.