Warning presented champion jockey Damien Oliver a sixth win in the Gr1 Victoria Derby when he stormed to victory in Saturday’s time honoured classic run over 2500m at Flemington.
In a dominant staying performance Warning raced clear at the top of the long straight and held out all his rivals with a first class display of stamina.
Another big race win for leading trainer Anthony Freedman, Warning provided his son Sam and young bloodstock agent Will Johnson with an incredible result after they teamed up to purchase Warning as a yearling.
Damien Oliver steers Warning to victory
The astute A$65,000 purchase happened at the 2018 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale when Johnson and Freedman teamed out to secure Warning. The duo “hid” out the side door of the complex to bid and secure their future star.
“A big thank you to Anthony Freedman – he’s a fantastic trainer,” Johnson, who is a bloodstock consultant with de Burgh Equine, said. “And what a ride from Damien Oliver.”
“Sam Freedman and I worked together at Newmarket (in the UK) and we set about buying a horse just over 18 months ago together. We found Warning in Adelaide at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale and put a few mates from school in and some of Anthony’s long serving clients like John O’Neill.”
“To come here on VRC Derby Day and to have a live chance it’s quite breathtaking,” Johnson added. “There’s no better feeling – everyone get involved in a racehorse, everyone’s got a chance and it’s a spectacular country to race in!”
The win was special for trainer Anthony Freedman considering the horse carries the famous family colours sported to such success over many years.
“It wasn’t our plan to ride him so close,” Freedman said. “But that’s why you use top jockeys and he used a snap decision which good jockeys do and put him forward.”
“I knew he would stay. I didn’t know if he’d be that good in the ground, but clearly he got through it well enough,” he added.
Oliver was at his masterful best aboard Warning and he came into the Derby with plenty of confidence after riding the gelding in track work on Tuesday morning.
“He was a bit keen early but once Thought Of That went around him, he lobbed into the one-one and he had a good rest,” Oliver said.
“I knew I had such an economical run and that he would stay well as he’s such a clean-winded horse so I thought he’d finish it off that strongly,” he added.
The win capped a big day for renowned South Australian breeder Harry Perks following Dalasan’s win in the Carbine Club Stakes earlier on the card.
Warning was sold through the draft of Mill Park Stud at the Morphettville based Adelaide Yearling Sale last year. Mill Park also sold former Derby winner Rebel Raider, another Classic winner sold by Magic Millions.
He is a son of Royal Ascot Queen Anne Stakes winner Declaration of War (War Front) and is from a Melbourne winning daughter of champion sire Galileo.
Meanwhile, star Sydney galloper Pierata sent his earnings soaring past $6.5 million when he scored a tough win in the inaugural A$1 million Redzel Stakes.
A A$160,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for trainer Greg Hickman in 2016, Pierata overcame a wide run for an impressive win under jockey Tommy Berry.
After an unlucky run in the recent The Everest, Pierata headed to the rich new feature race and in winning scooped his connections a cool A$750,000 bonus.
Like The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, Pierata was sold at the Gold Coast by Kitchwin Hills.
Winner: Warning
Breeding: Declaration of War-Livia (Galileo)
Race: VRC Victoria Derby G1 (2500m)
Sold for: A$65,000
Sale: 2018 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mill Park Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Sam Freedman / de Burgh Equine
Earnings: A$1,377,900
Owner(s): WG Johnson, B Baines, TE Dwyer, JA O’Neill, Mrs K Grossek, L Jervis, TL Ewert, ERD Farquharson, W Leaf, T Seccull, A Boyd, J Van De Pol, AWS Blair, Mrs SM Ridgway, Bromfield Park Pty Ltd (Mgr: WC Pearce) & Cedar Racing (Mgr: N Barbar)
Trainer: Anthony Freedman (Flemington)
