Freedom Reins provides nervous watch

Freedom Reins provides nervous watch

Trainer Andrew Carston breathed a sigh of relief when his charge Freedom Reins won the Palamountains Scientific Animal Nutrition (1600m) by a half-head, at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru on Thursday.

Carston watched the race on his phone from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale at Karaka with her syndicate manager, Go Racing’s Albert Bosma, watching over his shoulder.  

“I was thinking to myself while I was watching the race, this could go one of two ways,” Carston said. “But it was a great result and it’s always positive to get a win, especially when the boss is standing beside you.”

“Go Racing have been great supporters of mine so it’s good continue our success together and get good results for them.”

Freedom Reins had disappointed her connections at her last start on the first day of Cup Week at Riccarton, when she finished in eleventh position.

Bosma credited Carston and his team for turning her form around so quickly.

“We were disappointed with her last raceday performance,” he said. “However she was able to put that behind her yesterday.

“She was also given a gun ride by apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah who had her stalking the leaders throughout and he timed his run to perfection, getting up in the shadows of the post.”

Carston said that while Thursday’s win wasn’t expected he wasn’t surprised to see the five-year-old mare pick up her third career win either.

“I was disappointed with her run at Riccarton but she’s back on track now,” he said. “It was obviously a lesser field this time, but we rode her differently too and it was a nice ride from the young fella (Atchamah) to ride her quiet and she hit the line nicely.”

Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Freedom Reins is by their resident sire Turn Me Loose out of Black Beauty. She is a half-sister to stakes winner Beauty’s Beast and stakes-performer Yanson and is from a family that Go Racing know well.

“She’s from the family of Prince Mambo and Pullyoursocksup who have been stakes horses for us,” Bosma said.

Both Carston and Bosma were active on the final day of the Ready To Run Sale.

Go Racing secured Lot 280 the Toronado gelding out of Assuming for $260,000 while Carston purchased Lot 355 the Hellbent filly out of Emerge for $260,000 also.

Click here for a replay of this race.

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