Chief Stipe Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 Without A Fight should ‘have a crack' at Melbourne Cup redemption Mark Zahra celebrates after winning the Caulfield Cup aboard Without A Fight. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images By Gilbert Gardiner 07:29pm • 21 October 2023 Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight has Melbourne Cup redemption on the agenda after a stirring triumph on Saturday. Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight lapped up the fast ground on Saturday and a perfect ride from emerging Cups specialist Mark Zahra to deny West Wind Blows. Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip, set to back-up in the Cox Plate on Saturday, placed in a second straight Caulfield Cup – an ominous sign of more spring riches to come. Zahra, who won the 2020 Caulfield Cup on Verry Elleegant in front of empty grandstands, thanks to Covid restrictions, enjoyed the moment before a crowd of 25,121 on Saturday. • Mark Zahra denies great mate Jamie Spencer in Caulfield Cup epic Zahra, slugged a $50,000 fine for a whip breach in the Caulfield Cup, stamped Without A Fight's Melbourne Cup potential. "You've got to have a crack," Zahra said. "That was second-up from a spell. A great training performance from the Freedmans to get him right today so you think there's got to be a little bit of improvement. "In Brisbane (during the winter) I thought he won't run past 2000m so I said send him to the Cox Plate … he just came back so much more relaxed, so you've got to have a crack." Without A Fight and Mark Zahra (left) edge in front of West Wind Blows and Jamie Spencer. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images Zahra "pulled the right rein" last week, committing to ride Without A Fight despite a looming threat of opposing his Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip, and again on raceday. Calm. Composed. Cup winner, again. "It is good when you have the results at the end but you have to choose them beforehand," Zahra said. "What a moment. I'm so happy. "I don't really celebrate much but with the week I've had and the things that have gone on … had a beautiful run and he did the rest." An emotional Sam Freedman lauded Zahra's commitment to the horse. "What a call. He's pulled the right rein," Freedman said. "The horse is brilliant on top of the ground." Sam Freedman and jockey Mark Zahra kiss the Caulfield Cup. Picture: Michael Klein Freedman brushed off the veterinary drama around Without A Fight on Thursday and Friday. Racing Victoria vets deemed Without A Fight lame in mandatory pre-Caulfield Cup safety checks. The horse was cleared after a second inspection on Friday. "They made the right call. We were never worried," Freedman said. "As a trainer you would never send a horse to the races that you didn't feel was ready to go. "This horse, we know his so well and all the staff, they work tirelessly to get these results and so when you've got that nervous wait, you're feeling for them. "They're putting in the hours and it has been a tough enough six or twelve months … I'm sure the old man would be at home and getting a bit emotional." Freedman's father Anthony was involved in brother Lee's four Caulfield Cup triumphs in 1992, 1994-95 and 2003. On the 20th anniversary of family favourite Mummify's success, emerging iron horse Without A Fight added to the Freedman Caulfield Cup tradition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 21, 2023 Author Share Posted October 21, 2023 I'd never seen Without A Fight in the parade ring before. Having told everyone to offload on the nose before seeing it in the parade ring I thought I'd have to hide for a month. He would have to be the worst walker I've seen. One leg in particular he barely lifts and trips over it. Had the vets confused but hell he can gallop!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kihikihi Kid Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 With the amount of times Zahra hit it, it should have been disqualified. Pity the placegetters don't watch whip strikes on the winners cos they surely have to protest. Leaves a sour taste, not talking through my pocket either but they haven't thought this rule through properly AT ALL !. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 21, 2023 Author Share Posted October 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Kihikihi Kid said: With the amount of times Zahra hit it, it should have been disqualified. Pity the placegetters don't watch whip strikes on the winners cos they surely have to protest. Leaves a sour taste, not talking through my pocket either but they haven't thought this rule through properly AT ALL !. Still would have won on protest. Did Spencer get put out for causing interference in the last 100m? Just do away with the whip rule altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: I'd never seen Without A Fight in the parade ring before. Having told everyone to offload on the nose before seeing it in the parade ring I thought I'd have to hide for a month. He would have to be the worst walker I've seen. One leg in particular he barely lifts and trips over it. Had the vets confused but hell he can gallop!!! '🤣Having told everyone to offload on the nose ' You are a champion tipster....you always manage to find the winner...AFTER the race!🤡 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 4 hours ago, holy ravioli said: '🤣Having told everyone to offload on the nose ' You are a champion tipster....you always manage to find the winner...AFTER the race!🤡 Do you want references? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 53 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Do you want references? Sure put them here.Saw nothing here indicating optimism for WAF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 40 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: Sure put them here.Saw nothing here indicating optimism for WAF. WTF is YOUR problem? No opinion on the way the horse walks? The vet checks? The controversy over the Victorian vets and horses racing in NSW instead? You're a one dimensional Troll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 15 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: WTF is YOUR problem? No opinion on the way the horse walks? The vet checks? The controversy over the Victorian vets and horses racing in NSW instead? You're a one dimensional Troll. Not interested in the way it walks.Interested in your claim you tipped it...after the race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 19 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: Not interested in the way it walks.Interested in your claim you tipped it...after the race. Well the way it walks was very interesting but like most socialists you are a lightweight. What proof do you want that I picked Without A Fight to win the Caulfield? Not that I frigging care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 40 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Well the way it walks was very interesting but like most socialists you are a lightweight. What proof do you want that I picked Without A Fight to win the Caulfield? Not that I frigging care. Screen shot a winning ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 12 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: Screen shot a winning ticket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 8 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Cool bananas...hope it was more than a socialist gold coin on the nose!👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 1 minute ago, holy ravioli said: Cool bananas...hope it was more than a socialist gold coin on the nose!👍 His Underwood run was fantastic. To win either of the Cups you need to have a turn of foot and a good weight. As I said I was confident until I saw him walking and read about the vet checks. I guess he is a bit like you @holy ravioli a bit of a lazy slouch. I'm sure @Freda and @curious have seen horses just like him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 6 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: His Underwood run was fantastic. To win either of the Cups you need to have a turn of foot and a good weight. As I said I was confident until I saw him walking and read about the vet checks. I guess he is a bit like you @holy ravioli a bit of a lazy slouch. I'm sure @Freda and @curious have seen horses just like him. You really should refrain from ad hom attacks...stick with substance ,it's more compelling and an adult characteristic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 32 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: I'm sure @Freda and @curious have seen horses just like him. Not sure what that comment means but I certainly wish I had one just like him! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 24 minutes ago, curious said: Not sure what that comment means but I certainly wish I had one just like him! Yep as would I. The comment relates to horses that look lame but aren't. They are just lazy at lifting their feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 53 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: You really should refrain from ad hom attacks...stick with substance ,it's more compelling and an adult characteristic. So what did you back in the Caulfield Cup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: but like most socialists you are a lightweight. you live in a shallow pond eh! 🙄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 11 minutes ago, Murray Fish said: you live in a shallow pond eh! 🙄 Me or Holey Pasta? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 YAWN … WHIP RULES ONCE AGAIN FARCICAL Fair enough the stewards gave Mark Zahra a massive whack for his whip indiscretion in the Caulfield Cup – to the tune of $50,000! Now that's a decent slap if ever I've seen one but without going over all the old ground once again, why have whip rules when it seems to be accepted they don't make a horse go faster? If it's deemed the whip use does improve performance then take the race away, or at least lodge a protest. Stewards deemed Zahra's offence made no difference to the result (he won by a head) but still hit him with a $50k fine. If the excessive whip use never improved the horses performance one bit then what was Zahra doing when he hit Without A Fight nine times before the 100m? It's simply a ‘persuader' would be the argument I suppose. I give up. By Stephen Brassel 08:03am • 23 October 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 22, 2023 Author Share Posted October 22, 2023 So Zahra didn't illegally whip Without A Fight in the last 100m. I would have thought it was the last 100m when it counted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 Yep. Thank you ball boys. Where are you @holy ravioli ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Yep. Thank you ball boys. Where are you @holy ravioli ? Did you make any ...money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 3 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: Did you make any ...money? 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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