In the world of horse racing, the promising three-year-old Pushy continues to shine, maintaining an unbeaten record after three starts with a convincing victory at Newcastle under the guidance of trainer Michael Freedman.
Pushy, a son of the stallion Time Test from Little Avondale Stud, went into the race as the $1.80 favorite and didn't disappoint. Jockey Jason Collett guided him to a nearly four-length victory.
Looking ahead, Freedman has high hopes for Pushy's future development. He sees potential for the horse to handle longer distances, opening up a range of options for his racing career.
“The point of the exercise today was to give him a try at the mile and see how he coped with it,” Freedman explained. “He certainly looked good over it and looked as though he would enjoy getting over even further which is great because it gives us a few more options going forward.”
With Pushy in excellent form, Freedman has plans to target upcoming races such as the Dulcify (Listed, 1600m) at Randwick in two weeks, and potentially even the Gloaming Stakes (Group 3, 1800m) and Spring Champion Stakes (Group 1, 2000m).
Pushy's journey to this point has seen him progress steadily through the grades. He secured victory on debut at Kembla Grange over 1200m and then triumphed again at Newcastle over 1400m before his latest success.
Freedman noted that Pushy isn't the type of horse that stands out in training due to his laid-back demeanor. However, his true ability shines through when he races. The trainer believes in patiently developing young staying horses on provincial circuits before stepping up to higher-quality races in the city.
Bred by Stephanie Hole, who also bred Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Manzoice, Pushy was purchased for $60,000 as a yearling at Karaka from the draft of Wentwood Grange. His sire, Time Test, is a well-bred Group Two-winning son of Dubawi. Pushy's dam, Angel Child, was a successful mare, winning up to 2100m, and he shares his bloodline with notable horses like Soleil Rouge and All Thrills Too.
Freedman relied on the keen eye of Michael Wallace, with whom he has a longstanding relationship, to select Pushy at the yearling sale. Wallace's recommendation led to the purchase of Pushy, and it has proven to be a wise investment for the Freedman stable.
Freedman also noted the similarities between Pushy and another Time Test progeny purchased at the same sale, named Panic, who is set to make his racing debut.