Jimmy Choux's Open Minded Opens Stakes Account

Mark Smith - Wednesday January 26

Twelve months ago, Open Minded looked a stakes-winner in waiting when running up a sequence of four wins. Still, his large and enthusiastic bunch of owners had to keep the celebrations in check until the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Australia Day.

Open Minded opens his stakes account (image Grant Courtney)

Given an inspired ride by Damien Thornton, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Jimmy Choux defeated the in-form American import Lighthouse (USA) (Mizzen Mast) by a half-length with Excelida (Exceed And Excel) the same distance back in third.

With his first stakes success, Open Minded advances his record to nine wins and three thirds from 8 starts, with earnings of $443,365.

Advertisement

“It’s amazing as Dream Thoroughbreds have been great supporters of ours for a very long time,” Sam Freedman said.

“He’s a horse that has gone to a new level.

“Today was his biggest test, but he’s a race fit horse, and he’s passed that test.

“There was a key scratching this morning with Witchfulthinking. When he came out, we were happy to push the button take control of the race. Damien knows him very well, and we didn’t have to tie him down with instructions.

“His rating is going to go up again. The 1400m at Caulfield suits, so a race like the Orr Stakes would come under consideration.”

Open Minded (image Grant Courtney)

Open Minded was passed in short of his $50,000 reserve when consigned by Te Runga Stud to the 2018 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.

The gelding was a private purchase by Dream Thoroughbred’s Dave Azzopardi after being identified by bloodstock agent Lenny Russo of Bluegrass Bloodstock after he won a Te Rapa trial for former trainer Roger Lang.

A half-brother to Group 1 WRC Thorndon Mile runner-up Pride of Passion (Castledale) and stakes-placed Marmi (Lion Heart), Open Minded is one of five winners from as many to race out of the unraced Desert Prince (IRE) mare Desert Passion.

Now pensioned, Desert Passion has one more foal, an unnamed s3yo son of Vadamos (FR).

Open Minded becomes the fifth stakes-winner for Jimmy Choux. The 5-time Group 1 winning son of Thorn Park, who now stands at Rosalee Park Stud in Western Australia after beginning his career at Rich Hill Stud.

Advertisment

Race Result - John Dillon Stakes LR 1400m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.33
1
Open Minded
- 5g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Hidden Passion (AUS) (Desert Prince (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damien Thornton 55.5
2
0.5
Lighthouse
- 5m Mizzen Mast (USA) x More Hoping (USA) (North Light (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 56.5
3
1.0
Excelida
- 5m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Lady Sayyida (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 54
4
2.0
Biometric
- 6g Bated Breath (GB) x Bionic (GB) (Zafonic (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 54
5
2.3
Groundswell
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x The Broken Shore (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damian Lane 59
6
3.0
More Than Exceed
- 6g More Than Ready (USA) x Exceedingly Regal (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: B Prebble 54.5
7
4.8
Crosshaven
- 4g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: John Allen 59
8
6.8
Age Of Chivalry
- 6g He's Remarkable (NZ) x Onyx (NZ) (Kaapstad (NZ))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: J Mott 60
More Reading...
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Pelzter added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.