Anthony a free man to train as he likes

By Jordan Gerrans

As Toowoomba trainer Paul Wallace’s comeback has reached great heights over the last few years, Anthony Freeman has been there for almost every step of the journey. 

Wallace and Freeman – as an owner - were involved with the horses together in their earlier stints in the industry on the Darling Downs. 

When Wallace was keen to relaunch his stable back in the 2020-21 season, he got in contact with his old mate Freeman, who as a fencer could give him a hand with erecting stables and infastructure at his training property. 

Freeman soon followed into Clifford Park of a morning with a youngster he owned that Wallace was preparing. 

Wallace has won city races in his training return over the last couple of years as well as starting horses in feature races such as his hometown Weetwood Handicap. 

Englishman Freeman has largely been in the shadows as Wallace’s name has been up in lights.

But, he got his share of spotlight last week at Warwick. 

The 53-year-old Freeman collected his breakthrough triumph as a trainer on Friday after starting his first horse in a race in January of this year. 

“We just sort of happened to come back into it at the exact same time to be honest as we had not seen each other for a long time,” Freeman recalls of his close relationship with astute trainer Wallace. 

“He rang me as he was buying his property and needed some work done, with me being a fencer.

“I have helped him over the years, building yards and what not, and he used to train his horses for me.

“I had a yearling at the time who became Matilly and had a good preparation early on.”

The Freeman and Wallace team had a stunning return to the caper together as Matilly won five of her first 10 starts as well as being placed on two other occasions.

After two smart trials, Matilly is set to be back at the races in the near future after spelling for the back end of 2024.

Matilly remains in Wallace’s stable, but another galloper Freeman owns, that Wallace previously prepared, was the rookie trainer’s maiden victory.

Ariat started her career with Wallace and won a couple of races on the provincial circuit.

As Wallace’s stable has grown in recent times, the trainer suggested Freeman take on the five-year-old mare himself.

The daughter of Kobayashi ran fifth at Ipswich in her first outing for her new trainer last month before leading all the way to victory at Warwick’s Allman Park last Friday in a Class 3 Handicap over 1350 metres.

There was a point in the early stages of Ariat’s career where the team felt she would never make it to the races.

So, for her to now have three victories and three minors to her name, as well as being Freeman’s maiden triumph as a trainer, she is a special horse for the stable.

“It was a good feeling,” Freeman said.

“She is a nice horse and I have had her for a while. I feel good for the horse – more than myself – I am so happy for the horse to have done that.

“She is a gritty mare and they are my favourites, the Kobayashi’s.

“She had her first prep at Paul’s and we were unsure if she would ever race at one stage because of an injury she suffered.

“But, she is a tough and mare, it is a really nice story seeing as she has won three races now.”

On top of still working as a fencing contractor, Freeman heads into Clifford Park of a morning from his Linthorpe property with three gallopers. 

The English-born Freeman has been in Australia for the last 25 years and is relishing the challenge of preparing his own team.

“I love doing the horses, that is the main thing,” Freeman said.

“Training was what I always wanted to do eventually.

“I am obsessed with it; I have got the passion for training every morning.

“It takes you a long time to get a horse to the right spot but once you get them there, it is a really good feeling and that is what you do it for.”

Freeman has Ariat nominated in a couple of races for Saturday’s Clifford Park program as he chases another victory with the mare.

He also has stablemate Rupeezy set for the Maiden Plate over 1200 metres on the provincial program.

Freeman is determined to also win a race with five-year-old gelding Freeman Fury who has gone close on a number of occasions to breaking his maiden status in 12 career races has fallen just short so far.