The $300,000 Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Oaks Day was packed with interest as some very promising three year-old fillies lined up and it was progressive Blue Point (IRE) filly Point Barrow that arrived late to claim a valuable Black Type victory.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Point Barrow had just one start as a juvenile finishing third in the Listed MRC Merson Cooper Stakes last November, but has made swift progress this spring.
She won first up in a maiden at Bendigo in August, then won a Benchmark 64 event at Sandown before running third in the Group III MVRC Scarborough Stakes and winning an open fillies sprint at Caulfield.
Point Barrow was well fancied despite drawing wide and after settling last, she charged to the line for Daniel Stackhouse to score an eye-catching length win over stakes-winning I am Invincible filly Inkaruna.
“She's shown herself to have a nice change-up speed, but she's still doing a bit wrong. She got a bit keen in the early stages, that's part of the reason we came today rather than throwing her in the deep end in a race like the Coolmore, because she's just doing a little bit wrong,” said Sam Freedman.
"She was dominant in the end, and once she works out her craft, she's going to be a pretty special filly hopefully."
Point Barrow was purchased by her trainers for $400,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at Magic Millions and has the overall record of four wins from six starts with prizemoney just shy of $400,000.
Bred by Yarraman Park in partnership with Robert and Barbara McClure of Morning Rise Stud, Point Barrow runs for an ownership group that includes the McClures along with Halo Racing Services (the late Colin McKenna)and Ridgmont.
“For Janice McKenna, it's really special she's here today,” Freedman added.
"She hasn't been to the races so far this preparation, we had a chat this morning, and she was keen to come out here, and that's quite emotional.
“I met Col through his time in racing, at Magic Millions when Andy Makiv introduced us, he took a leg in a third of this filly.
"I'm sure he was looking over really proud of what the filly's done, so it's really nice to have Janice here today."
The paddock is the likely next stop for Point Barrow with G1 goals on the radar next year.
"She's done enough this preparation. She's been in for a little while, and she's taken every step forward. She came back from an injury to do this preparation, so I'd be inclined to go to the paddock and look towards a race like the Sangster (G1)in the Autumn," Freedman said.
She is the second foal and second winner from Group III winning Reward for Effort mare Take Pride, who was bought from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2017 for $550,000 by James Bester Bloodstock and comes from the family of Caulfield Cup winner Mummify.
Take Pride has a yearling colt by Home Affairs and has foaled this spring producing a colt by Hellbent.
Point Barrow is the 26th stakes-winner worldwide for Darley shuttler Blue Point, who did not come to Australia this spring.
