26 May 2018
Former Melbourne champion trainer Lee Freedman landed his first Group 1 success in Singapore with CS graduate Mr Clint in the $1 million Singapore Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
The Australian Hall of Fame trainer came to Kranji the winner of no fewer than 124 Group 1 races in his celebrated career, including one at his new hunting ground back in 2005 with Mummify in the now-defunct Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) when then just a visiting trainer.
After starting his Singapore training career last September, Freedman took his first ‘black-type’ race at Kranji in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) with Circuit Land on April 27.
One month later, he had added another silverware, this time a Group 1 race to his budding Singapore trophy cabinet, courtesy of a superlative performance from Mr Clint under a peach of a ride from top Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton in the third and final Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge.
“It’s a great thrill to win a Group 1 race here in Singapore. We’re here now and that’s what we have to do: Win these big races here, too,” said Freedman.
“This horse (Mr Clint) is an honest sort. CK (owner Phua Chian Kin of Oscar Racing Stable) bought him for NZ$95,000 and shared him with Laurie Laxon (previous trainer for Mr Clint). It’s nice to train a good horse for them.
“I told Zac that he should keep him on the outside as he doesn’t like to be on the inside of horses. He was travelling so well and I knew he would be hard to beat then.”
Starting as the favourite, the son of Power indeed made light of a wide trip worse than midfield before swinging for home looking full of running, and stamping himself as the fresh horse on the scene.
Mr Clint’s winning margin was one length and time was 1min 35.15secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.
Cambridge Stud sold Mr Clint to Stuart Hale at the 2016 NZB Select Yearling Sale for $52,500. Through the draft of Riversley Park, he later returned to Karaka for the 2016 Ready to Run Sale of 2YO’s, selling on this occasion to Laxon for $95,000.
The talented Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan-bred gelding hails from the Gr.1 family of Foxwood, Sovereign Red, Gurner’s Lane and Trichelle.
Mr Clint’s dam Victoria’s Belle has now had the two winners from three to race and will look to extend this record with the Tavistock foal she currently carries.
-Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club