Michael Freedman seals brilliant day with Cinsault's stakes success
Michael Freedman's bold "Hail Mary" gamble succeeded when his peak-condition mare Cinsault claimed stakes company for the first time in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
Owned by Godolphin, Cinsault had previously notched three wins from four summer starts in lesser company prior to Freedman entering her in the prominent mares' event.
"It just goes to show what can happen when you have a mare in form like she is at the moment,'' Freedman said.
"On facts and figures, I didn't think she could beat Lazzura but she is in such a purple patch of form.
"This is a massive jump from a benchmark 78 race to a Group 2 but with a mare going as well as her, sometimes you just have to roll with it.
"I had a good chat with the Godolphin team early in the week and I told them I know this is a bit of a 'Hail Mary' but I thought it was worth having a go at some black type with Cinsault.
"Godolphin are very easy to train for and they said we will go with what you think.''
The $6 chance Cinsault responded stoutly when challenged by Lazzura ($2.05 market elect), scoring by a long head with Dark Glitter ($9.50) trailing by 2-1/2 lengths for third spot.
Lazzura threatened to dominate approaching the furlong pole, yet right as Chris Waller and James McDonald anticipated their landmark 500th partnership triumph, Cinsault dug deep to overturn the result.
Rider Schofield, fresh from a treble including triumphs on Stretan Ruler in the Silver Slipper Stakes and Starphisticated in the Midway, labelled the mare's performance "very gutsy."
"She (Cinsault) actually beat me in a ding-dong finish last start and I can see why, she's very gutsy, she just wants to give you everything she has,'' Schofield said.
"There was probably a bit more pressure early in the race than I would've liked, but we were up there travelling well.
"I waited until we straightened to come off the leader's back and when Lazzura didn't put me away early I thought "right, we're the fit horse, we'll get you later." She was the stronger of the two late.''
Cinsault's win rounded out Freedman's stakes hat-trick, complemented by Ninja's success in the Hobartville Stakes and Pallaton's in the Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield.
Provided Cinsault bounces back in top order, Freedman plans to weigh options for the Coolmore Classic (1500m) over Rosehill Gardens track on March 14.
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