Sam Freedman etched his 30th birthday into racing history thanks to Tropicus’ Group 1 masterclass.
The four-year-old offspring of Too Darn Hot sealed his breakthrough at the elite tier by thrashing rivals in the $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
As the $7.50 outsider and second choice for trainers Sam and Anthony Freedman over favourite Point Barrow ($2.60), Tropicus’ win has the camp buzzing with potential for escalation.
“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.”
Shouldering 58.5kg—the heaviest to prevail in the Caulfield sprint since 1973 metrics—Tropicus led a weight-dominated finish.
Second by 1-1/4 lengths was Hedged (59kg, $20), followed by Gallant Son (52kg, $8.50) in third, with Jedibeel (58.5kg, $18) a long-head further back in fourth.
Craig Williams claimed his debut Oakleigh Plate, building on his Futurity Stakes victory with Pericles that day, expressing thanks for the mount.
“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 watched him, they’ve left the headgear off him and just saved it for the race day today.”
Tropicus firmed to $11 in Newmarket Handicap wagering ruled by Tentyris, but the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on March 21 appeals more to Freedman.
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