Five-year-old gelding Open Minded is back to winning form after taking out the Cameron Rose Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
A large and vocal ownership group and co-trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman will now be hoping the New Zealand bred son of Jimmy Choux can emulate the winning run of four races achieved through the early part of 2021.
Beginning at Caulfield last January, Open Minded then strung together wins at Sale, Moonee Valley and again at Caulfield and all over shorter distances.
However, in 2022, the stakes could be raised after dominating Saturday’s Benchmark 84 event.
“His rating has been creeping up and he’s one of those horses that is very consistent,” Sam Freedman said.
“And he’s a dream for owners.
“The 1400m was what we wanted to try this preparation because his rating has just crept up that little bit and the sprinters are a little bit too sharp for him.
“He’s ticked that box today and he’s got a great record at Caulfield.”
Open Minded’s win took his Caulfield record to four wins in as many starts at the course and he is likely to be back again on 26 January in Listed company over 1400m.
“The John Dillon Stakes on Australia Day is a possibility – his rating is going to go up and he’s probably won by too far, so we’ll have to raise the bar again,” Freedman said.
“He’s earned his rating, he just keeps winning.”
Open Minded won by three-lengths over Score ($12) with Polanco ($21) a long-head away in third.
This win notched a double for the Freedman stable and also for three-kilo claiming apprentice jockey Alana Kelly.
The gelding was a private purchase out of New Zealand by Dream Thoroughbred’s Dave Azzopardi.
Open Minded was identified by bloodstock agent Lenny Russo of Bluegrass Bloodstock after he won a Te Rapa trial for former trainer Roger Lang.
From 17 starts, the Tim Harrison-bred five-year-old has now won on eight occasions with a further three placings to amass prizemoney to date of A$347,365.
