While Free Off Debt may not have lived up to the form that saw him open his career with wins at Morphettville and Flemington before a close-up third to Lyre in the 2019 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, the son of Unencumbered brought a lump to the throat of trainer Chris Bieg following his maiden stakes success in Saturday's Listed W H Wylie Handicap (1100m) at Morphettville.
The 5yo gelding has now won three of his last four starts. He had a tussle with the equally honest Kemelpasa (Magnus), who had to spot the winners 6kgs before grudgingly conceding to go down by a half-length.
Pimm's Party (Street Boss) was a length and a quarter further back in third.
“The experience we’ve had with this horse and the ride he has taken us on has been amazing,” Bieg said.
“He’s finally won a black-type race.
“I could not be happier with him. The owner’s support has been amazing.
“With 54kgs on his back it was a bit of a tough ask to find the right rider for him. Gary (Lo) won on him last start so why not put him back on. He rode him so confidently today and I could not be happier.
Free of Doubt advances his record to five wins, two seconds, and a third 18 starts with earnings of $425,525, making a mockery of his $30,000 purchase price by his trainer from the Phoenix Broodmare Farm draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
From the second of four crops left by the Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Unencumbered before his untimely death, Free Of Doubt is the best of five winners from as many to race out of the Melbourne winning Giant's Causeway mare Stagerush.
Purchased by Greta West Stud for $22,000 at the 2009 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock Sale, Stagerush descends from the family of the top stallion Scenic (IRE) as well as the top-class performers, Slightly Dangerous, Warning and Rainbow Quest.
Stagerush died in October last year. Her final foal is a 2yo filly by Master Of Design.
Free Of Debt becomes the sixth stakes-winner for Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Unencumbered (Testa Rossa), who died in 2018.
