Debt free to take on the Oakleigh Plate

SOUTH Australian threeyear-old Free Of Debt is out of the All-Star Mile and will be kept to short-course racing, with the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate his next start.

Connections of the colt had been chasing a start in the 1600m All-Star Mile at Caulfield, but withdrew him yesterday to concentrate on sprints.

Voting closes on Sunday and the top 10 votegetters will gain a start in the $5 million race on March 14. Tasmanian jockey Craig Newitt, a winner of the Oakleigh Plate on Snitzel (2006) and Lankan Rupee (2014), has been booked for the ride. “He’ll get in on the minimum with 50 kilos in the Oakleigh Plate, so it looks a good option for him,” trainer Chris Bieg said yesterday.

“He’s nominated for the Newmarket Handicap, so I guess that would be the next stepping stone.

“At some point I think he will race beyond 1200 metres, but we’ll let him tell us when that’s ready to happen.”

Free Of Debt had his first race in just over 10 months when run down by Super Seth in the 1200m Manfred Stakes at Caulfield on February 1.

Bieg was delighted with Free Of Debt’s second after a lay-off because of a ligament issue in a hind leg. “He went enormous after so long off and he only had one quiet jumpout at Morphettville in the lead-up to that first-up run,” Bieg said.

“There was a lot of improvement to come from that run, and with 50kg, back to the 1100m, it should see him run a great race in the Oakleigh Plate. Beyond the Newmarket we can come back to Adelaide and I’d love to give him another shot at Morphettville and we’ve got The Goodwood in the autumn.”