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By Mark Brassel

The Freedman family is heading back to this week’s Wagga Gold Cup Carnival hoping to repeat their epic Town Plate victory with a horse that has a vastly different racing style to their 2017 winner.

Anthony Freedman, now teamed up with his son Sam, hit the Riverina four years back with outstanding sprinter Santa Ana Lane.

The gelding came from near last with his customary burst to power away with the Iron Jack Town Plate (1200m) at the luxurious odds of $10.

Santa Ana Lane went on to become an elite sprinter, subsequently taking out five Group 1 races for $8.2 million in prizemoney.

This time the Freedman duo will be bringing Open Minded, a horse that loves leading or being on the pace.

The four-year-old is in a rich vein of form having won his past four starts at Caulfield (twice), Moonee Valley and Sale.

“Anthony has not been back to the Wagga carnival since Santa Ana Lane so we’re all looking forward to the trip,” said Brad Taylor, Anthony & Sam’s Racing Manager.

“The Town Plate looks a very nice race for him and he’s a happy, healthy horse.”

Last start Open Minded led and defeated a strong Saturday class field at Caulfield (1200m) after bounding clear soon after straightening.

“To be honest we were a little surprised by the win as he wasn’t fully wound up – there’s further improvement to come,” Taylor said.

The Freedman camp put blinkers on Open Minded in January and since the gear change, the sprinter has won four successive races.

“We resisted putting the blinkers on for some time but then he seemed to lose his way, so we added the gear. The blinkers have really switched him on and he’s in tremendous form; he possesses a good turn of foot.”

Regular rider Damien Thornton is unavailable for Wagga with the Freedmans hoping to book Nash Rawiller or Tommy Berry.

Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s CEO, Steve Keene said: “We’re seeing unprecedented ticket sales for both Iron Jack Town Plate Day and Harvey Norman Wagga Gold Cup.

“I think people are excited to get back on track, after missing out last year with COVID. Hospitality and accommodation have been fully booked for weeks.

“And I’m pleased to say the weather Gods look like they’ll be on our side with fantastic conditions forecast for the two days of racing.

The depth of talent during the Wagga Cup Carnival was never more evident than last year.

In the opening event on Town Plate Day, Lion’s Roar, now a Group 1 winner of the Randwick Guineas, defeated Another One, a winner of four races and runner-up in the Country Championships Final.

And MTC will once again be honouring and celebrating the riding career of former jockey Tye Angland by holding the William Farrer Hotel Tye Angland Medal over the two days of the Harvey Norman Wagga Gold Cup Carnival.

The Tye Angland Medal will be counted the same way as the jockey challenge with both days added together to reveal the winner.

Along with receiving the medal, the winning jockey will also receive prizemoney thanks to the generous sponsorship from David Barnhill and the team at the William Farrar Hotel, Wagga.

“Tye will be attending the Wagga Carnival over both days and for the first time will be on course to present the Medal,” said Mr Keene.

“We’re excited to have Tye back on track for the first occasion since his Wagga Gold Cup win in 2018 on Life Less Ordinary.”

Upcoming NSW country race meetings
Monday: Taree, Gunnedah
Thursday: Wagga
Friday: Wagga, Coffs Harbour
Saturday: Lismore, Cobar (non-TAB), Marthaguy (non-TAB)
Sunday: Mudgee, Goulburn