Mark Zahra led by as much as five lengths at the 800-metre mark, before holding on to win by 0.75l aboard Deny Knowledge (Pride Of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Might And Power S. at Caulfield.
It was the star hoop’s third triumph in this event, and he said it was always the idea to open up a big early lead on the seven-year-old mare.
“That was the plan. She actually jumped well today, and I was able to get there,” he told racing.com.
“She wasn’t overdoing it. She was just happy, and I just wanted her to slowly pick up around the 800-1000 (metres).
“I wanted her flat out coming around the bend. When she straightened up, I gave her one and she responded.
“All credit to her it was a good win.”
Originally a €26,000 (AU$42,100) purchase for Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock at the Goffs Ireland Sportsman’s Yearling Sale, Deny Knowledge won two races in England before being imported to Australia in 2021 and picking up two Stakes victories for Michael Kent, on her way to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale earlier this year.
Offered by Newgate Consignment, she was sold to the bid of Yulong Investments for $500,000, and was transferred to Anthony and Sam Freedman, collecting the Listed Grafton Cup at her second start for her new owners.
Deny Knowledge’s dam is a half-sister to Gr.1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Big Orange (Duke Of Marmalade), and a granddaughter of Almaaseh (Dancing Brave), dam of Hong Kong Horse Of The Year & Champion Middle Distance Horse Military Attack (Oratorio) and Champion Three-Year-Old Sprinter in Ireland in 1996 and sire Almaty. The family also features Red Cadeaux (Cadeaux Genereux), a Stakes race winner in the UK, Ireland, and Hong Kong, and runner-up in the G1 Melbourne Cup three times in five attempts at the race.
Sam Freedman said he did not have to do much with the seven-year-old after acquiring her from the Michael Kent stable.
“She arrived to us in great order from Mick Kent. She’s a well-performed mare,” he said. “She obviously is a Gr.2 Matriarch winner… so we had a very good product to work with.
“We just tinkered with a few things in her training, just to get her to switch off and relax.
“That’s been the key; we know she’s got an engine. She’s shown that in the past but getting her to relax and be able to time her run a little better (has been key).
“Mark executed that perfectly.”
Sam Freedman is now looking at next Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Cup for his mare.
“She’s a high-energy mare. She’s pretty sound, she handles her racing really well, and we’ll monitor her closely over the week and see how she comes through it,” he said.
Written By Josh Spasaro, Kit Gow & Kristen Manning for TTRAusNZ
