Cover image courtesy of Will Freedman
Freedman explored other career paths before horses won him completely over and with such strong blood ties he was always going to be at short odds to pursue a career as a trainer.
He is a son of Richard, who with his brothers Lee, Anthony and Michael have long been dominant forces in Australian racing with multiple Group 1 successes, among others, in the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups, Golden Slipper S. and the Cox Plate on their CVs.
These days, Richard operates in partnership in Sydney with Michael, Lee is training in Singapore while Anthony is based at Mornington where his son Sam is his Assistant Trainer.
And now Will Freedman, 28, has decided the time is right for him to branch out on his own after garnering in-depth international experience and at home, most recently as Racing Manager for his father.
Will Freedman
“I don’t perhaps have the responsibilities of someone of 35 or 36. I can give it my all and I’m lucky that my partner Rachael Hunt is coming up with me,” he said.
“She was an apprentice jockey in town and she will do a bit of trackwork for me. It’s a big step and all you can do is back your own judgment to make the right calls.
“It will be satisfying to make the right calls without having my father or my uncles there as safety nets. It’s a good time to live or die by the sword, so to speak.
“It will be satisfying to make the right calls without having my father or my uncles there as safety nets.” – Will Freedman
“I’ll move to Scone next week and the stable will kick off as of July 1. Numbers won’t be huge to begin with, and that was expected, and I’ve got room for 20.
“I’ll probably start off with eight to 10 and do most of the work myself to begin with to make sure I keep the quality up and then just take them where I think they can win.
“Usually, if you can get on a roll then things tend to pick up so there’s a bit of pressure to kick off on the right foot."
Richard and Will Freedman at trackwork
Freedman also has the added advantage of first-hand experience of growing a new stable.
“Fortunately, when Dad started at Hawkesbury I was there for the whole process. I know that it can be a slow grind to wait for opportunities and if you place horses in races where they can win then people will start entrusting you with horses.
“In Sydney, there are always people looking for country trainers. Not all horses make the grade in town and need a bit of relief to make sure they are paying their way. If I can offer a good service then I’m sure the numbers will pick up.”
Ideal Scone set-up
Freedman will have 20 walk-in, walk-out yards with quarter of an acre paddocks attached, a water walker, treadmill and a sand track at his disposal adjacent to the Scone racecourse.
“It’s a lovely set-up and Dad and I went up and had a look at it and we both looked at each other and said horses will do well here, there’s a bit of a sixth sense to these things I suppose. I am certainly confident there will be success out of the yard,” Freedman said.
After completing his school education, he graduated with a BA in Media from the University of New South Wales and subsequently completed a season at Yarraman Park Stud.
Will (back, centre) with his Flying Start graduating class in 2018
“I think they tried to break me as best they could, on my father’s instructions, to see if I was really cut out for it. I did have an affinity with horses and realised it was something I wanted to do,” Freedman said.
“I have always been a passionate racing follower and with a love for horses training was a pretty alluring career. Then I spent six months with Greg Bennett and did the Godolphin Flying Start course so I was certain where I wanted to be.
“Obviously, it’s in the blood so it wasn’t one Eureka moment but a logical progression for me. It’s all been driven by a love of the horse.
“Obviously, it’s in the blood so it wasn’t one Eureka moment but a logical progression for me. It’s all been driven by a love of the horse.” – Will Freedman
“When you get up at 4am and work through until 6pm seven days a week you’ve got to love horses.”
Freedman, who worked for a short time at Sony Music after leaving university, gained invaluable overseas experience through Flying Start with trainers Mike De Kock, Tom Morley and Willie Mullins and with Waterford Bloodstock in New Zealand.
Mike De Kock
“Tom was a young trainer and I did a stint with Waterford Bloodstock and then a longer stint with Mike in Dubai and finally a placement with Willie Mullins in Ireland,” Freedman said.
“My Dad has been the biggest influence, but getting exposed to different training techniques is very important. I don’t want to be a complete carbon copy of my father and uncles, they are superb trainers, but there’s room for everyone to grow.
“I don’t want to be a complete carbon copy of my father and uncles, they are superb trainers, but there’s room for everyone to grow.” – Will Freedman
“I learned a lot from Mike De Kock and Willie Mullins, very big helps, and Mike has become a good friend. You certainly need mentors along the way and I’ve been particularly lucky through the Flying Start.
“I’ve been with my father and most recently with him and Michael for the best part of five years. I certainly feel ready to do it (training) and confident I will make most of the right calls.
“I got to the stage within Richard and Michael’s business that I would be treading water in my career. I want to take the next step and take the responsibility for what happens.”
With his pedigree, it now seems a sound bet that the newest Freedman to the training ranks can successfully follow in the family footsteps.
