Unencumbered's Free To Move Shocks in the Creswick

Mark Smith - Saturday June 19

The Listed AR Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday looked a competitive race on paper, and with 100 metres left to run, eight horses were spread across the track.

To the shock of punters, Craig Newitt on the $101 chance Free To Move did the best in the closing stages.

Free To Move does best in a driving finish (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

The 3yo gelded son of Unencumbered defeated the $81 chance Brenlyn's Trooper (Redente) by a half-neck, with Capriccio (I Am Invincible) a nose back in third.

A length covered the first eight across the line.

It was a massive result for Kasey Keys, who trains Free To Move in partnership with her father Ken, and is the geldings sole owner.

"He's pretty special this boy," Kasey Keys said.

"I was pretty confident that we could run a place. Obviously, I was scared of the favourite (Curran), but when there was give in the track, I thought we were in with a chance."

Keys told Racing.com that she had purchased Free To Move with the intention of selling him to Hong Kong.

 "I really like him at the VOBIS Gold sale," she said.

"I originally picked him out with the hope of sending him off to Hong Kong. When that didn't happen I was quite happy to stay with him. I am not much of a salesperson.

"Because he didn't cost a lot, I was quite happy to stay with him."

Advertisement

Craig Newitt looking pleased with himself (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Craig Newitt praised the geldings courage.

"He's all ticker. There is not much of him, but he has a will to win," Newitt said.

"He jumped, he travelled, sat outside the leader on a pretty good tempo. The swarm was coming, but he kept sicking his little head out."

Keys signed the ticket for $8,000 to secure Free To Move from the Bucklee Farm draft at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale.

With his first stakes-win the son of Unencumbered advanced his record to three wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $267,220,

Free To Move an $8,000 VOBIS Gold yearling

Free To Move is the best of three winners from six to race out of the winning Dangerous mare Canhill, a half-sister to the Listed WATC Gimcrack stakes winner Western Zip (Zephyr Zip).

Free To Move is the penultimate foal of Canhill, who died in 2019.

Her final foal is the unraced 2yo Trust In a Gust filly Fica Comigo, a $4,000 Inglis Gold Yearling.

Free To Move is the fifth stakes-winner for Unencumbered. The Magic Millions 2yo Classic winning son of Testa Rossa died in 2018 after completing four seasons at stud.

Advertisment

Race Result - A.R. Creswick Stakes LR 1200m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:12.04
1
Free To Move
- 3g Unencumbered (AUS) x Canhill (AUS) (Dangerous (AUS))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: C Newitt 58
2
0.2
Brenlyn's Trooper
- 3g Redente (AUS) x One For The Kids (AUS) (Hold That Tiger (USA))
Tnr: Sylvia Thompson Rdr: J Duffy 57
3
0.3
Capriccio
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Lonhspresso (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Daniel Bowman Rdr: H Coffey 56
I Am Invincible
4
0.4
Maha
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Makrooma (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
5
0.5
Curran
- 3g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tramell (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Tolson & Ms L Proctor Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 59
6
0.8
Snickerdoodledandy
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Crafty Irna (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
7
0.9
Aidensfield
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Muscovado (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: T Dabernig & B Hayes Rdr: J Mott 56
8
1.0
Stellar Pauline
- 3f Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Negotiate (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: D Yendall 56
9
1.7
Sir Davy
- 3g Street Boss (USA) x Catechuchu (AUS) (Catbird (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 57
10
1.9
Rights Of Man
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Listen Here (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 57
11
2.0
Grand Pope
- 3g More Than Ready (USA) x Joyful Journey (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: R Mc Leod 57
12
3.3
Sweetzou
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Sweet Butterfly (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: M J Dee 55
13
3.7
Pioneer River
- 3g Snitzel (AUS) x Ocean Of Tears (NZ) (Minardi (USA))
Tnr: T Dabernig & B Hayes Rdr: B Melham 57
14
9.7
The Cruiser
- 3g Charge Forward (AUS) x Chatelaine (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: F Stockdale Rdr: Beau Mertens 57
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 4
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner and Welcome Return
Vinery Stud’s Exceedance produced a debut winner at Moe on Thursday that started as a short priced favourite and on Saturday at Randwick we will see the return of his best performer to date.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 AJ Moir Stakes
The Valley blasts into spring G1 action with the running of the $750,000 AJ Moir Stakes WFA at 1000m, and it's always an exciting spectacle when a full field of flyers are going full bore on the turning track!
Corumbene Stud Mourn Loss of Treasured Mare
Corumbene Stud took to Instagram earlier today to announce the passing of their much loved broodmare Bahia, the dam of Golden Slipper winner Overreach.
Kiwi Melbourne Cup Contender Kicks off at The Valley
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mark Twain has landed in Melbourne and will commence his path towards the iconic feature at The Valley on Saturday.
Grail Seeker Chasing Another G1
Top quality performer Grail Seeker will be heading in a new direction on Saturday when she attempts to add to her record at the highest level.
Mitchell McKenzie Colts Showcase
All eyes will be on the $175,000 Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with an intriguing field of nine colts and geldings all vying for that all important first stakes win.
Melbourne Cup Ciaron Maher Stable Also in the Hunt
Earlier this week we ran a story on the Chris Waller trained entries for this year’s Melbourne Cup and today we’re taking a look at the trainer with the next biggest number of contenders and that is Ciaron Maher with 13.
River (Banking) on Dalasan
There are any number of reasons a stallion can go radio silent in their third and fourth seasons at stud.
Will Macdonald Joins Astute Bloodstock
Astute Bloodstock is delighted to announce the expansion of our team as we continue to meet increasing client demand and pursue our Group 1 ambitions.