After signing the cheque for $250,000 to secure Freak Of Nature at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Jason Warren needed just $18,000 to return the son of Snitzel to his stable when offered on Inglis Digital in February.
After making a winning debut at Sandown last season at two, Freak Of Nature lost form and underwent a tie-back procedure. He returned with three unplaced efforts, and the major part-owner Trilogy decided to cut its losses.
Warren retained the faith, and after five disappointing efforts since his debut, Freak Of Nature romped to a four-and-a-half-length success over 1200m on the Pakenham Synthetic on July 1.
Ten days late, the 3-year-old son of Snitzel lined up in the Senet Gambling Law Experts Hcp (1400m) at Sandown Lakeside. He was made to work to find the front, passing the halfway mark, but showed no signs of stopping in the straight.
Ridden by Ethan Brown, Freak Of Nature kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the Turn To Lose gelding Liberami by two and a half lengths, with the favoured Sioux Nation (USA) filly Apache Song back in third.
Ethan Brown said his hand had been forced.
"Ideally, I wanted to be in behind, but everyone had the same idea," he said.
"He began well, and it was quite tactical early. This horse wants a flowing ride, so I was happy to roll forward. I thought he was handling the heavy track well, which gave me the confidence to go forward.
"He has plenty of improvement, so he is an exciting horse. He's always had the talent but did not have the smoothest of preps. They had to geld him and give him a wind op, so they've given him plenty of time, and it's paying dividends."
A brother to the 5-time winner and Group II ATC Shannon Stakes runner-up Discharged, and a half-brother to the recent Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes winner Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), Freak Of Nature is the sixth winner from seven to race for the top-class mare No Evidence Needed.
Purchased by Baramul Stud for $750,000 from the 2014 Patinack Dispersal, the Group II VRC Let's Elope Stakes winner and Group 1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Staes and Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks runner-up No Evidence Needed (Shamardal), has a yearling colt by Zoustar, which was a $400,000 purchase for David Ellis from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2024 National Yearling Sale.
After missing in 2022, No Evidence Needed was covered by Dundeel last spring.
