Change of surroundings for Freo ahead of Fitzpatrick challenge

New stable acquisition Freo will contest this Sunday’s $100,000 Fitzpatrick Plate (1230m) in Albany after a strong trial victory at Mt Barker last Thursday for trainer Rebecca Wallrodt.

Freo, who won the 2018 Group 3 R.J Peters Stakes (1500m), has been transferred to Wallrodt from the metro stables of Daniel O’Connor by his Albany-based owners who wanted to give the six-year-old a change of environment.

Ridden by Jason Whiting, Freo sat third in running before working to the line strongly in the home straight to win the 1000m trial by 0.8 lengths over What About Moses in 1min. 02.36sec.

A winner at four of his 19 career starts, Freo will contest the Albany sprint feature on Sunday as a first-up assignment.

“Freo’s owners are Albany locals and I have his half-brother Spiculus,” Wallrodt said. “They didn’t go superb hard in the trial but he did everything we wanted. It was purely a trial and some fitness and we’ll head to the Fitzpatrick first-up.”

Emerging mare Willow River scored her second win this campaign, finishing strongly to claim the Hicks Handicap (1100m) at Mt Barker. In one of only four races held on the day, Willow River settled midfield and her run was timed perfectly by Whiting as she held off the fast-finishing Norske Code by 0.2 lengths on the line.

Norske Code started favourite at her WA debut for the Steve Wolfe stable. Wallrodt said Willow River was a quirky horse but continues to improve with racing.

“She had a first-up win then a fourth and her next run was not the best,” she said.

“I went back to basics with her.

“She’s a pretty immature four-year-old and she will run again in Albany in three weeks.”

Banjo Man ended a 987-day drought to score his second ever win, saluting in race three for Capel trainer Vicki Harper while in the two maiden races four-year-old mares Blankenberge and Miss Circlework both broke through.