Fate delivers victory to Break Free
HAD Townsville trainer Alby Molino had his way, I Wanna Break Free wouldn’t have raced at all at Cluden Park yesterday.
But a fortunate twist of fate paved the way for the fiveyear-old gelding to produce the strongest display of his career by easily winning the Class 6 Plate over 1000m.
The $4 chance sat just off the hot speed set by favourite Canny Legend ($2.05) and Gutz Ci ($12), beating the former by one-and-three-quarter lengths
Stepping up to the grade for the first time, it was I Wanna Break Free’s fourth straight win over the track and distance.
Molino had planned to give him a spell after finishing second in a Class 4 event at Cairns on January 23, but was forced to take a different course.
The horse has won three of four starts since it joined Molino’s stable in December.
“I was going to take him for a spell after Cairns but they didn’t have enough room in the float so I thought I’d give him another run here,” Molino said.
“It was the lightest weight (56kg) he’s had for a little bit.
“I thought Snappy Legend would be hardest to beat and Gutz Ci would take them on.
“I told Steve (jockey Stephen Wilson) to take a sit not too far behind them and he went better than what I thought.”
With Wilson on board, Molino’s three runners all finished in the placings, with newcomer Valuate ($3.60) edged out by $2.80 favourite Craiglea Ella in the Two-YearOld Maiden Handicap over 1200m, while Chic Sox ($3.60 favourite) came home third behind $13 elect Grey Sambucca in the Band 0-55 Handicap over 1000m.