‘Amazing day’: Freedman reflects on epic Melbourne Cup win

Sam Freedman with Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight.

Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight has pulled up as fresh as trainer Sam Freedman, less than 24 hours after their Flemington triumph.

Freedman, who was in bed by 10pm last night, planned to reflect on the Melbourne Cup success with his father and co-trainer Anthony on Wednesday.

Race day recluse Anthony, who watched the Cup from a friend’s winery on the Mornington Peninsula, had yet to see his son, Sam, or the trophy in person prior to a media conference at the private stable, Pinecliff, in Mt Eliza.

Sam Freedman with Without A Fight.

“We’re thrilled, the whole team turned up this morning, which is a start, they got over-racing last night but they’ve all turned up, so it was good to celebrate with family and friends and all the people that do the hard work behind the scenes, reflecting today on what was a pretty amazing day yesterday, it hasn’t quite sunken in but we’ll start to enjoy it over the next couple weeks,” Freedman said.

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“He’s (Without A Fight) very fresh, he’s pulled up super, he’s trotted out well for the vet, we’ll keep him in the stable for a few days, keep a close eye on him, see how he comes through it but initial signs you couldn’t have hoped for him to pull up any better.”

Freedman said Without A Fight would most likely head to the paddock now for a break, forgoing a Japan Cup invitation, to prepare for next year.

“He’s a horse that really loves being in work, loves what he does,” Freedman said.

“We’ll see how he goes in the paddock and then we’ll come up with a plan for 2024 but I would think you wouldn’t see him (racing) until next year.”