It may have been her 9th attempt and it may have been won in the Stewards room but there is absolutely no denying that Freedom Falls deserved victory yesterday in Navan. In five runs last year she only finished outside of the top four once which was over 7f in Dundalk in October. Prior to that she had picked up €20,000 (more than she was bought for) in the Tattersalls Ireland Sales race when running a gallant 4th behind the 109 rated Streets Of Gold. On her start after that she only found the 102 rated Lord Massusus too good in a Curragh winners of one so no one can question the strength of her form.
She returned as a 3yo in Listowel in June running yet another fourth just wanting for fitness in the last 110yds displaying signs that she had in fact trained on and still had the fight in her belly. An ideal opportunity looked to present itself in her first handicap start only for the saddle to slip coming out of the stalls bringing an end to her race before it ever began. We then attempted to back her up 7 days later over a quick 5f on quicker than ideal ground in Down Royal which did not go to plan.
From L-R: John Bourke, Declan Byrne, Patrick Davis and Jack Davison
Her owners have to be admired for their patience as a couple of unfortunate results left us all wondering would she ever get the job done. They kept the faith and probably her ideal conditions presented themselves in Navan. A stiff 5.5f on soft ground is right up her street and it proved to be her crowning moment. Ronan set sail 1f from home only for Lady Fox and Hugh Horgan to mirror her challenge on the outside up the centre of the track.
My instant reaction when the crossed the line was that we’d been denied again but upon review of the head-on footage I would’ve felt very hard done by if we had of not been awarded the race. They move across three, possibly four lanes ending up on the rail with a narrow head being called in favour of Lady Fox, a year older £95,000 yearling buy back. Ultimately the Stewards made the right call and awarded us the race.
Freedom Falls only finds the 102 rated Lord Massusus too good at the Curragh last year.
Freedom Falls was a £19,000 Tattersalls Ireland September yearling sale purchase and has since gone on to amass almost €30,000 in prize money. She has danced every dance, ran at a lot of different tracks on good days and we hope she is not done yet. Galway may be on the horizon next where we’re expecting to have a very strong team but she could also line out in Naas, the Curragh or even be campaigned abroad. The most important thing was that she got the 1 beside her name and a huge congrats to her trainer Jack Davison who recorded his first ever double courtesy of The Snapper in the very next race.
Busy week ahead
Snowhaven looks to get her career back on track tomorrow evening in Killarney after slipping up in Gowran on her last start. She has opened up as 5/2 favorite for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley and whilst she has been good at home there is one eye on Galway with this being used as a confidence booster.
Fast Tara, Ben Coen and her army of owners celebrating her maiden victory in Bellewstown in April.
Fast Tara is set to line out in the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes on Wednesday for Johnny Murtagh. She has been found wanting over longer trips up in grade the last twice but a step back to to 1m around a tight track with give in the ground looks to be right up her street. She has had a 54 day break after a busy period from winning her maiden but we’re excited to see her get back on track and also hopefully be building toward Galway.
Queen Of Atlantis being put through her paces up Warren Hill during the week.
Queen Of Atlantis’s form took a timely boost during the week as her Newbury conqueror was 3rd in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on the July course during the week. James Ferguson’s charge will attempt to break her own maiden on the very same course on Saturday in a Restricted Fillies Maiden worth £30,000. She will also get an entry in Wolverhampton next Tuesday so we’ll see how the week ahead goes.
NH squad has us salivating
I called over to Sonny Carey’s during the week to check in on the 2023 NH team. It’s always my favorite visit as it’s the first time I see the horses since the sale. The changes are always significant and you’re always thinking in the back of your head “have we bought as well as we think we have?”. There’s no two ways about it, the answer to that question is a firm yes and I don’t think we’ve ever bought as well during my tenure for Syndicates.Racing.
Nice morning checking in on our @Goffs1866 Arkle Sale store purchases @sonnygcarey. An elegant, precocious looking Jeu St Eloi filly (left) and a big, strong loose moving Diamond Boy filly. As nice a store as we’ve ever bought for @SyndicatesHQ both headed for @WillieMullinsNH 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/8nXSZipOX9
— John Bourke (@Johnny_Bourke) July 13, 2023
Sonny reports both fillies in fine order and whilst both are quite different they both have that stamp of quality that is so hard to find. Kara de Thaix is an elegant, precocious filly that has the Defender Bumper written all over her. She schooled the other day and jumps very well and in Sonny’s own words “she’d be able to go up the Old Vic in the morning”.
Our Diamond Boy filly has been a hugely popular new addition to our 2023 NH Team. She stands at 16.2hh, is a lovely easy mover, she stands over a lot of ground and has a lovely presence about her. Very excited to see what Willie Mullins can unlock in this one. pic.twitter.com/z9QoHudi5y
— Syndicates.Racing (@SyndicatesHQ) July 14, 2023
The Diamond Boy filly is a different sort altogether. She has size and scope to burn standing at 16.2hh. She covers a lot of ground and has a serene presence about her. She’s one that will likely thrive over a fence and is different to the normal type of filly that we can afford to buy so safe to say we’re pretty happy to have her as part of the 2023 team.
Milan Dollar Lady prances around the Goffs Sales ring at last years Land Rover sale.
We received a very positive report on one of last years purchases, Milan Dollar Lady, from Peter Fahey during the week and she looks set to debut in Roscommon on August the 8th all going well. She is a filly that has done nothing but progress since she’s arrived with Peter and being a half sister to Road To Respect we expect her to keep progressing throughout her career.
Sharp Object progressing nicely with John McConnell
Our first P2P purchase Sharp Object is progressing nicely with John McConnell and could be out in about a month from her rules debut. She’s one who has us very excited and she’s begun a “movement” amongst some of racing Twitter’s biggest influencers. She’s been one of our most popular new additions and is almost sold out. She looks to have a bright future ahead of her.
Breakfast With the Stars
Our annual trip to Tinnakill is booked in for August 12th and we’d love to have you all there with us to see some of our stars of the past, present and future. It’s always a thoroughly enjoyable morning and it’s great to get to meet so many owners and take stock on some pretty impressive beasts. Cabaret Queen and her Fifty Stars foal will be there as well as Nós na Gaoithe, Cabaret Princess, West End Victory, Mise le Meas and so many more. There’ll be refreshments and it’s always a good family day out so please do join us.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading. Things have really ramped up for us of late and we’re in for a very exciting period so come along for the ride. If there’s anything at all we can do for you please do drop me a line john@syndicates.racing.