Without A Fight stops bout with Q22 KO at Eagle Farm
Without A Fight powers to victory in The Q22 at Eagle Farm
X-factor import Without A Fight became the find of the winter carnival after surging into Cox Plate favouritism with a demolition job in the $1.2m Q22 at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The one-time Melbourne Cup fancy arrived in Australia with a sizeable spruik but failed to fire in the race that stops the nation when trained by Simon and Ed Crisford.
However, he has morphed into a Sunshine State monster under the care of Anthony and Sam Freedman, who are now daring to dream of spring riches.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Without A Fight had his Cox Plate quote slashed from $15 to $8 following the romp, putting him atop the market with English raider Dubai Honour.
Bookmakers also cut his Caulfield and Melbourne Cup quote to $13.Without A Fight put the jets on in the Q22! 🚠@FreedmanRacingpic.twitter.com/sJBYlki58F
- 7HorseRacing ðŸÂÂÂÂÂŽ (@7horseracing) June 10, 2023
Not since Incentivise sprouted from obscurity two years ago has a horse with such X-factor emerged from Queensland, and co-trainer Anthony Freedman said they would now plot a spring path for the son of Teofilo.
"He was a high-quality horse in Europe, but he had some issues obviously," Freedman said. "He had some surgery and we changed the way we ride him.
"Sam met (Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum) and kept that relationship up, we now have some yearlings and other horses with him, hopefully this excites him.
Melbourne Cup-winning Jockey Mark Zahra gave a glowing endorsement for his spring credentials, labelling his performance on Saturday "pretty special".
"I couldn't get to the fence from the barrier and I had to get a hold of him at the 1200m, and I thought it would have taken his turn of foot off him," Zahra said.
"I took off because of that, I thought I had to get going and before I knew it, I was in front – his turn of foot was amazing.
"A horse that can pull like that and produce a finish like that is pretty special.
"Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, I will be on board."
Without A Fight is now an equal Cox Plate favourite. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography
Nonconformist surged home to finish runner-up, bouncing back from a below-par run in the Group 1 Doomben Cup where he finished 11th.
"That was terrific today, great, he just didn't like Doomben," trainer Grahame Begg said.
Three-time Group 1 winner Duais finished third, looking set to explode in the straight but not finishing nearly as fast as the winner.
"At the 600(m) mark, I was thinking how far (would Duais win by)," jockey Sam Clipperton said.
"She was good but she was pretty cruisy, I would suggest maybe it might be a good idea to experiment with some head gear with her in the future."
Gollan scores Stradbroke day consolation with Antino
Tony Gollan has always yearned to win a Stradbroke Handicap but he might remember the day for other reasons after Antino announced himself on the big stage in The Wayne Wilson on Saturday.
Queensland's premier trainer had long harboured Stradbroke dreams for the lightly raced winning machine but was forced to pivot when the four-year-old didn't make the field.
Antino put in a career-best performance to blitz his Wayne Wilson rivals, laying down a spring marker, where Gollan says he is keen to take him to Melbourne.
Antino with an impressive win in the Listed Wayne Wilson ðŸÂŽ @JimmyOrman @tonygollan pic.twitter.com/saKXRa5rdm
— 7HorseRacing ðŸÂŽ (@7horseracing) June 10, 2023
"He's just a winner this horse, he's won eight from nine now and sky's the limit," Gollan said.
"There aren't too many with a record like that and doing it in town.
"I don't know where he ends up, this horse … He's so versatile.
"You saw how he sustained a long run the other day with 61.5 (kg) and to sit three-pairs back today and sprint like it was a 1200m race.
"He's got a massive future, he's a beautiful looking animal and he's a pleasure to train. I certainly appreciate having a horse like this in my yard.
"I said to the connections when we didn't get into the Stradbroke that this was a good option for him to see where we're at and where we head in the spring.
"He answered a few questions today and we can sit down and map out a bit of a path for him in Melbourne or Sydney.
"He's a very exciting horse and show him off down there."
While Gollan was originally concerned jockey Jimmy Orman had set the horse a task from back in the field, Antino exploded to victory in strong fashion over Munhamek and Skyman.
Orman was quick to throw his hat into the ring to ride Antino when he ventures south in the spring.
"Bloody oath I do," Orman said, when asked on his future prospects.
"It is good to be a part of it. He's a good horse and that was his best win.
"He put them away very quickly. The sky's the limit for him, I think."
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