A Group I winner last spring for Yulong when winning the Group I MRC Might and Power Stakes over Mr Brightside, Deny Knowledge (IRE) looks primed for another good campaign with a first up win in the Listed MRC Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Offered last year in the Newgate Consignment at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale as agent for Cross Park Stud, Deny Knowledge was purchased by Yulong for $500,000 and was immediately transferred from previous trainer Mick Kent Snr to Anthony and Sam Freedman.
She has blossomed in their care to achieve Group I success and may have more wins in store at the elite level to come.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Deny Knowledge set the pace in front and kicked on to win by the best part of a length under 59.5kg.
“I thought she might be a little bit vulnerable late, but to her credit, for any flaw in fitness that she had today, she makes up for it in toughness and the way that she always puts in,” said Sam Freedman.
"You're doing her an injustice if you send her to the races not completely fit because she's the most genuine mare you'd ever have in the stable so she was pretty forward. She'd had three solid trials and a fair bit of work.
"She may need one more [run]. I thought she was probably 90% there today. I'll have a chat with the boss in Sydney and get his wisdom on it all as he's been there a few times. I'm sure he'll have some nice advice for me to take on that. As I said, she needs to be fit when she goes to the races because she can feel the pinch a little bit late and it gets exaggerated by her racing style."
"So possibly one more [run] between now and the Australian Cup. She'll make them earn it whatever is going to run her down."
Mark Zahra won the G1 Might and Power (Caulfield) Stakes on Deny Knowledge in the spring and has a good understanding of the mare.
“It was hard work. Race 10 on a 37 degree day. I rode her in the Group I, the Caulfield Stakes. She was deep in the prep so she relaxed a bit better. Where today she was like, 'I'm fresh and ready to go' and sort of had to hold her. I was doing my best to hold her keeping in mind that we were first up with 59kg. But one thing she is, she's tough and so you've always got to have her at her top no matter what the scenario is,” he said.
"At the top of the straight, she kicked and she was out late and then they came and she was that mad she went again. She was like 'no horse is getting near me' and the last 50 was strong again."
Deny Knowledge has the overall record of 10 wins and nine placings from 40 starts with prizemoney topping $1.8million.
She made 26,000 euros originally at the Goffs Sportsman’s Yearling Sale and is the best of two winners from The Paris Shrug, a winning half-sister by Monsun stallion Manduro to Group I Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Big Orange.
This is also the family of much loved perennial Melbourne Cup placegetter and Group I winner Red Cadeaux and HK Horse of the Year and Champion Middle Distance Horse Military Attack, so it’s no surprise Deny Knowledge can run a trip.
Deny Knowledge is one of five Group I winners for Pride of Dubai, who is currently leading the Australian General Sires List by earnings.
