Frank Not Twitchy

ANOTHER FILLY FOR ASSOCIATED BLOODSTOCK 

This chestnut filly, caught the eye of Jim Clarke and Associated Bloodstock’s Mark Greenup out of Book Two (2) at Magic Millions Yearling Sale earlier this year.

By Deep Field a full brother to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting to Win (by Northern Meteor) a galloper that faced the starter eight times, winning five races with a lone second and third, banking connections more than $390,000.

Amongst Deep Field’s victories were black type wins in the VRC Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200 m.), successfully navigating the Club’s famous straight course, and the ATC Listed Lightning Handicap (1100 m.).

The bay horse retired for covering duties in 2015 and has received plenty of support from breeders, as of mid-January 2023 the Australian Stud Book reveals a total of 1,550 returns, with six crops of foals at racing age, statistics read 504 of his progeny have raced, from those 466 have recorded a win, amongst them winners are 23 Black Type victors including three at the highest level - Portland Sky (ex-Sky Rumba by Shrewd Rhythm) dead-heated in the 2021 MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100 m.) with Celebrity Queen. The 2023 South African King’s Plate (1600 m.) winner Al Muthana (ex-El Daana by Redoute’s Choice) and Sky Field (ex Laravissante by O’Reilly) winner of the 2021 Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin (1200 m.).

NOT ENOUGH?  This filly is out of Twitchy Frank, a winner of seven races, placing nine-times, with earnings of more than $560,000 for connections.  Twitchy Frank's sales history shows the mare sold as a weanling, in 2015, out of the Inglis Melbourne Great Southern Sale when knocked down to the bid of Darren Weir Racing in the sum of $10,000.  Retiring as a Group 3 winner of the Tasmanian Turf Club’s Vamos Stakes (1400 m.), held during that State’s summer carnival which added considerable residual value to the daughter of Choisir.

Connections reoffered Twitchy Frank for sale at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2020, the mare changed ownership to Vinery Stud (NSW) with a successful bid of $210,000.   Vinery then reoffered the daughter of Red Pixie (by Lonhro) at the 2021 William Inglis Chairman’s Sale when the current owner A List Stud paid $330,000 for the mare.

- Pasted below is a link to Associated Bloodstock's video for the filly.

Deep Field - Twitchy Frank

The racing and breeding industries have been David Lee Freedman's life, since his father Tony (Anthony) took up breeding and training after retiring as a property developer in New South Wales.  Educated at The Scots College, Freedman dropped out of the Australian National University to join his father to work and eventually run the family’s stud near Yass.

Freedman’s career changed with a decision to branch out as a trainer setting up stables at Warwick Farm, with a small team of horses with his brother Anthony as the Foreman.   Not long after they moved interstate and they found success with a bay filly by Loosen Up, Sauna (ex Ardennes) winning the MVRC Group 3 Leilani Stakes (1200 m.). Sauna trained-on to finish runner-up in the Group 1 VATC 1000 Guineas (1600 m.).  It was in 1982 that Lee trained, his first winner at the elite level when Miss Clipper (Alert – Right Wind) defeated Canny Lass in the SAJC Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000 m.).

Seven years on Freedman landed the 1989 VRC Group 1 Melbourne Cup with Tawrrific (Tawfiq – Jovarty) under the guidance of Shane Dye. Then through an amazing period from 1992 the brothers saddled up the Group 1 winners Super Impose (Imposing – Pheroz Fancy), Naturalism (Palace Music – Zephyr Souba), Subzero (Kala Dancer – Wiley Trade), Encosta de Lago (Fairy King – Shoal Creek) and Doriemus (Norman Pentaquad – Golden Woods).

Not long after the 2000 Melbourne Cup Carnival, Freedman decided to change his training set-up again with his brother Richard buying a piece of land, near Rye, on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula the brothers set the property up in a manner that reinvigorated the operation. The likes of Alinghi (Encosta de Lago – Oceanfast), Special Harmony (Spinning World – Marooned Lady), Mummify (Jeune – Cleopatras Girl), and the champion mare Makybe Diva (Desert King – Tugela).

Freedman took over the training of Makybe Diva in 2004, after David Hall left to take up a position in Hong Kong. Freedman nurtured the mare into superstar that became fondly known as ‘The Diva’ winning a BMW, an Australian Cup, a Cox Plate, and the VRC’s iconic Melbourne Cup on two more occasions taking The Diva’s tally to three wins which had never happened in more than 160-years of the race.  Fittingly, The Diva retired after winning her third Melbourne Cup in November 2005.

In 2003, Lee Freedman joined the ranks of Australia's all-time greats when he was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.   In 2006 Freedman was regarded as Victoria's premier trainer, and along with Bart Cummings, Gai Waterhouse, David Hayes and John Hawkes, among Australia's best.

More recently, in mid-2017 Freedman moved to Singapore to train horses there, taking over the stables of New Zealand-born Laurie Laxon who had retired. Partly due to COVID-19 and its effects on racing in Singapore, Freedman decided to return to Australia in 2020 setting up his new base at the Gold Coast.

Associated Bloodstock’s Mark Greenup is thrilled to continue his association with Freedman, sending a third filly to be developed into his care, this time by Deep Field, as Lee continues to deliver results for Associated Bloodstock's clients.