The Lloyd Williams-owned Homesman will step back-up to Group 1 company on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival with the stable confirming their Mackinnon Stakes plans for the all-the-way Crystal Mile winner.
Homesman caught the eye winning the 2020 Crystal Mile on Cox Plate Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Anthony & Sam Freedman’s Feehan Stakes winner from last year, War Front seven-year-old Homesman was back in form having been kept fresh for his Cox Plate Day assignment in the Group 2 $300,000 Crystal Mile (1600m).
Relishing a return to his favourite track and distance over the Moonee Valley mile, Homesman jumped away beautifully with jockey Ben Melham going straight to the front in the five-horse field.
Homesman ($3.90) never looked like loosing holding position all-the-way to the line having skipped clear at the 200m to power home in a two-length victory over equal $3.20 co-favourites Age Of Chivalry and King’s Will Dream running second and third respectively.
“He’s been an old marvel,” winning jockey Melham said after the race.
“He loves this circuit. It’s been a great team effort to get him up and winning here today.”
The Freedman’s stable rep Brad Taylor was suitably pleased with the horse’s efforts and confirmed his next assignment as the Group 1 $2 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 7.
“It’s great to get him into winning form and good to see him back in winning form at his favourite track and distance,” Taylor told the media.
“He’s a bit of a lazy trackworker…but he’s fit. Ben’s done his last few gallops and was happy with his last earlier in the week.
“He (Homesman) came down to us about eight or nine weeks ago from Macedon (Lodge).
“He’ll have a crack at that race (the Mackinnon) now, step back up to Group 1 quality and hopefully he can put himself back in Group 1 company.”
The horse’s last top three run at elite level was a second to Black Heart Bart in last year’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
Homesman has been added to the all-in Mackinnon Stakes 2020 betting odds at $12 through Ladbrokes.com.au with full markets available here.
2020 Crystal Mile Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | HOMESMAN (USA) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Ben Melham | 2 | 59kg | $3.90 | |||
| 2 | 6 | AGE OF CHIVALRY (NZ) | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Damian Lane | 2L | 3 | 59kg | $3.20EF | ||
| 3 | 2 | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | Chris Waller | Michael Rodd | 3.25L | 4 | 59kg | $3.20EF | ||
| 4 | 9 | RIDDLE ME THAT | Matt Laurie | Daniel Stackhouse | 5.25L | 5 | 58.5kg | $12 | ||
| 5 | 5 | DR DRILL (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Kerrin McEvoy | 9.5L | 1 | 59kg | $6 | ||
| 8 | CHIEF IRONSIDE (GB) | Kris Lees | Craig Williams | 0 | ||||||
| 4 | OLMEDO (FR) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 0 | ||||||
| 3 | STREETS OF AVALON | Shane Nichols | Zac Spain | 0 | ||||||
| 7 | GALAXY RAIDER | Grahame Begg | William Pike | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
