Darley Colt Proves Stud Potential

The Sunday Age

Sunday October 12, 2008

Tony Bourke

WINNING a race named after a horse you have trained would be a thrill for any trainer, but Lee Freedman was particularly chuffed with the success of Wilander in the group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000metres) at Caulfield yesterday.

Although Freedman also won the race with the champion mare Miss Andretti in 2006, any group race success for Sheik Mohammed seems to have added value for a trainer.

Freedman said he had "about 34" two and three-year-olds for Sheik Mohammed and it was very satisfying to win a group race with a colt with the stallion potential of Wilander.

Wilander is by Sheik Mohammed's Darley Stud's Exceed And Excel, whose oldest progeny are now three-year-olds.

Ridden brilliantly by Kerrin McEvoy, Wilander, who eased from $5 to $7, secured a gap about three off the rails inside the 200 metres and charged home to beat the $3.10 favourite Lucky Secret by a long head, with Gamble Me ($7.50) a length away third.

At the top of the straight, Lucky Secret who flew the gates at the start and led easily, had all his rivals off the bit and seemed to have the race in his keeping.

Danny Brereton had Lucky Secret out in the middle of the track and McEvoy had to switch inside him on Wilander, who made up about three lengths in the last 100 metres.

Brereton said he had stayed well away from the inside rail by design. "There was never any plan to go to the inside," he said.

Trainer Tony Vasil agreed, saying he thought the ground nearer the rail was slower.

Freedman said he expected Wilander would be an even better horse next autumn. "I just think there's plenty of improvement in him," he said.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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