SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

Maddy Rumler has been at Mitch Freedman Racing for almost seven months, each morning she rides track work unless she is strapping on a Saturday and heads straight to the races.

Rumler explains, “on a daily basis my role involves riding track work each morning. After riding I could pull manes, go to the races, or attend to the general care of the horses. I like that my role is diverse, and that each day is different”.

“I love getting off a horse and feeling that it’s improved, or it’s just done it’s best work”.

With a background in eventing and dressage, riding race horses were completely different. “The transition into riding track work, and fast work, has been a challenge. We stand up all the time in the irons, ride a lot shorter and they pull a lot harder. Changing my riding technique was a challenge, as well as building on my fitness”.

“You think you’re fit riding slow work, then do a gallop riding short it’s ten times harder. Mitch has been great helping me learn times, we usually ride upsides and I learn to build off the pace with him. I’ll turn my beeper on, and we talk and discuss times once we pull up”.

We asked Rumler what her fondest memory was that involved horses, with no delay she replied. “A big tall handsome, black horse called Excelsior Star. He could be quite the hand full, but when he went around nicely he was the best ride. He won at Moonee Valley December 11, 2020 in a BM64 over 2040 metres ridden by Declan Bates. I’d been doing a bit more work at Paul Preuker’s and got to sit on him almost every day, watching him go around knowing that I’d put most of the work into him to then watch him win at the Valley was really rewarding”.

If you see Maddy at the races, be sure to give her a shout. We appreciate all you’re doing Maddy, thank you for your time.

Rod Groves always had a keen interest in horse racing even as a small kid, as he recalls his involvement over the last 45 years. Groves’ father enjoyed a punt and his grandfather used to run a four-place-bet from the local pub.

Groves got into horse ownership through a group of friends, and has progressed over the years into breeding with around six mares of his own. Going from breeding his own stock, into involvement of breaking and pre-training horses.

When Groves casts his memory over his racing journey, a stand out to him was a horse called Battle Hawk from the 90’s. He won the main lead up to the Victorian Derby called the Robinsons Stakes at Caulfield on Caulfield Cup Day, and went on to be the second favourite in the Victorian Derby. Groves offers”, he was a bit of a Flemington specialist, from memory he won four at Flemington. He was a terrific horse who ran second in the South Australian group 1, he was sold to Western Australia as an entire. He went on to win his last two starts for us at Caulfield and Sandown”.

The association with Mitch Freedman Racing began around 2015, Groves bred a colt by Hard Spun that was later trained by Freedman. Both Freedman and Groves kept a share in the horse, and he was later sold onto Hong Kong successfully. Later Groves phoned Freedman with another filly he had bred who was by Rich Enuff, and offered for Mitch to take a look at her in the paddock.

Some time passed, and her wounds appeared to heal very well. Groves recalls, “she recovered rapidly. She was on box rest for some time, and then went out into the paddock. I might have jumped the gun initially, she then got to a stage where she was ready to be broken in”.

“The end result of it all is we ended up with Belle Et Riche, with only five career starts for two wins, two seconds and a third”. She is an exciting, handy filly who has just returned to the stable following a spell, we look forward to seeing her step out this preparation.

Thank you for your time Rod, it’s a fantastic story we wish you all the best for the upcoming season.

This filly is a three-quarter sister to Artie Dee Two, who accumulated $325,500 in prize money and was a consistent horse for the Mitch Freedman team.

Flying Artie is a fantastic young stallion, the sire of 2021 Blue Diamond winner and multiple stakes performer Artorius.

Mitch loved this filly, “we expect her to continue to improve out of the sale, her three-quarter brother was a good horse for the stable and we look forward to getting started with her”.

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This month we feature Rose Bright who has been at Mitch Freedman Racing for almost six months.
Bright’s awarded employee of the month because she has come a long way in the short time, stepping up to the task each time as she continues to grow and gain confidence with the horses. A reliable member of our team, who is willing to help those around her.

On Bright’s first day, the first box she skipped out belonged to Tararua who soon became her favourite. Tararua goes by stable name ‘Kiwi’, the four-year-old winning son of Squamosa took a liking to Bright, as she did for him.

Bright offered, “I like the stripe across his nose, on my first day he walked straight up to me in the box. He was friendly and gentle, likes cuddles and is a bit of a character. When I’m skipping out his box, he often tries to pick up the rake and help me”.

We are glad to have you as part of the team Rose, your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated we can’t thank you enough. If you see Rose around be sure to give her a wave and say hello!