Golden Slipper Countdown for Greta West Stud

Media Release - Tuesday March 19

Free Of Debt can end a long run of outs for Victorian-bred colts in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes over 1200 metres at Rosehill this Saturday.

Free of Debt - Grant CourtneyCanny Lad (Bletchingly) was the last Victorian-bred colt to win the Golden Slipper way back in 1990. He was bred by the late Alec Dodson and went on to carve out a successful career at stud siring 55 stakes winners before being pensioned in 2011.

Free Of Debt (Unencumbered) was bred in Victoria's north-east at Greta West Stud and is already assured of a start at stud after being purchased by Aquis Farm last month. He has settled in perfectly since arriving in Sydney and trainer Chris Bieg can't wait until the world's richest juvenile race.

"He's doing everything right and handled the travel well," Bieg said on Sunday. "We're stabled with Gerald Ryan here at Rosehill and the facilities are fantastic for keeping him nice and dry while enjoying the undercover walker."

Free Of Debt won his first two starts at Morphettville and Flemington before a brave third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. "He was the first colt home in the Blue Diamond after carting them up in the straight," Bieg said. "A wet track shouldn't be a problem, either. He won a trial by three lengths on a Soft 7 at Randwick last week and I'm really excited with how well he pulled up."

Greta West studmaster Laurie McCarthy is also counting down to the Golden Slipper although he may have to listen through ear-phones as it clashes with a wedding in Geelong. "He was a nice foal and developed into a strong yearling for last year's Adelaide Magic Millions. But Unencumbered had sired just one or two winners at that stage and he only made $30,000."

McCarthy has a Keep The Faith half-sister to Free Of Debt catalogued as Lot 141 through Bucklee Farm for the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale at Oaklands on April 30. He also has a Master Of Design filly on the ground from their dam Stagerush (Giant's Causeway).

Stagerush was a Sandown winner for Limerick Lane's Gerry Ryan and he sold her as a broodmare prospect to Greta West for $22,000 at the 2009 Inglis Great Southern Sale. McCarthy gave her a year off this season and, win, lose or draw this Saturday, he can expect to trade up to a high-profile stallion come September.

Article courtesy of Karl Patterson - TBV News

Advertisment
More Reading...
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Express Yourself Returns to NZ
Group One performer Express Yourself has returned home from her spring campaign in Melbourne and is now on a path towards the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.