The Anthony & Sam Freedman stable has uncovered a genuine sprinting star in Tropicus, who returned from a spell in spectacular fashion to secure a comprehensive victory in the 2026 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
2026 Oakleigh Plate winner Tropicus is likely to return to Caulfield for a shot at the Ladbrokes William Reid Stakes next month. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Exactly one year after saluting in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes on the same program, the progressive son of Too Darn Hot proved he has made the leap to elite company.
Displaying newfound maturity and a lethal turn of foot, the four-year-old entire swamped his rivals to take home the lion’s share of the Group 1 $750,000 feature over 1100m.
“He’s a proper horse, he deserves that,” co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com in the mounting yard.
“As a three-year-old he raced against some of the best, Broadsiding and a few really proper colts.
“He’s got better as an entire and one of those horses that just trains on and on and on, we’ve seen him get better this prep, you wouldn’t rule out him going to another level again.
“Like he does every time he goes to the races, even in the gallop he finds again, and just ultra tough, consistent, all the attributes you want in an entire.
“He puts himself up there, pins his ears back and has a crack. They don’t always do that as entires, as you know, but he’s one horse he’s got better – two, three, four, he just continues to improve.”
The victory provided jockey Craig Williams with a Group 1 double on Blue Diamond Day following his earlier success on Pericles in the Futurity Stakes.
Remarkably, despite his decorated career, this was Williams’ first win in the Oakleigh Plate, and it came with his first sit on Tropicus.
“Beginner’s luck maybe, first time on him—but he seemed pretty good to ride,” Williams remarked.
“He’s pretty cruisy. I can see why Mark Zahra and Damian Lane really enjoyed riding him in their time, and he gave me a lovely ride today, so the race worked out really well for me.”
Williams positioned Tropicus ($7.50) perfectly in the run, stalking the speed in second before asking for an effort at the top of the straight.
The response was immediate; Tropicus drew away over the final furlong to win by 1.25 lengths.
The Gavin Bedggood-trained Hedged ($20) was massive in defeat, defying his 59kg topweight to grab second.
“He was terrific,” said runner-up jockey Harry Coffey.
“Proud of him and the team is doing a great job.
“He’s just run into a horse that is bombproof, fast, and does it its own way.
“I lost my positioning at the top of the straight and it cost me a length, but I was super proud, he ran his heart out and was good through the line.
“He carried a bit weight which people were concerned with, and I felt he ran as good as he can and he can hold his head high.”
The ultra-tough Gallant Son ($8.50) continued his rise through the grades to finish third.
“Tough as nails this horse,” rider Luke Cartwright said.
“It was a very bold run today. I found it a bit easy to be honest.
“They didn’t cross me and get the cover I wanted and at the 600 (metres) they were leaving the door open for me, and I took it up.
“He gave a strong kick, but unfortunately there were a few better than him today.”
The Group 1 breakthrough significantly boosts Tropicus’ value as a stallion prospect for Kia Ora.
The Freedmans are now likely to target the $1 million Ladbrokes William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on March 21, preferring to keep him away from the Flemington straight.
“I don’t think he’s a straight horse, to be honest. He’s generally good around a bend, he’s so good here,” Sam Freedman explained.
“I’d say we may end up in a William Reid, something like that… next in store would probably be a weight for age race.
“I don’t think we’d see him in a Newmarket, probably go to a William Reid – he’s so good at Caulfield and so good fresh.”
Tropicus has seen his odds for the William Reid Stakes slashed at Ladbrokes, firming from $26 into $13 following the win.
2026 Oakleigh Plate Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | TROPICUS | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 9 | 58.5kg | $7.50 | ||
| 2 | 1 | HEDGED | Gavin Bedggood | Harry Coffey | 1.25L | 5 | 59kg | $20 | |
| 3 | 13 | GALLANT SON | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Cartwright (a) | 3.25L | 3 | 52kg | $8.50 | |
| 4 | 2 | JEDIBEEL (NZ) | Brad Widdup | Damian Lane | 3.5L | 12 | 58.5kg | $18 | |
| 5 | 14 | POINT BARROW | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Ms Jamie Melham | 4.25L | 10 | 50kg | $2.60F | |
| 6 | 8 | PERSIAN SPIRIT | Symon Wilde | Daniel Stackhouse | 4.5L | 8 | 56kg | $12 | |
| 7 | 9 | SPYWIRE | Ciaron Maher | Jye McNeil | 4.65L | 6 | 56kg | $31 | |
| 8 | 4 | WAY TO THE STARS | Matthew Smith | Ethan Brown | 4.95L | 13 | 58kg | $31 | |
| 9 | 6 | SHE’S BULLETPROOF | Charlotte Littlefield | Ms Celine Gaudray | 4.97L | 4 | 56.5kg | $21 | |
| 10 | 11 | DON’T HOPE DO | Simon Zahra | Teo Nugent | 5.07L | 7 | 52.5kg | $10 | |
| 11 | 5 | OAK HILL (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Beau Mertens | 5.82L | 11 | 57kg | $26 | |
| 12 | 12 | DE BERGERAC | Grahame Begg | Logan Bates (a) | 7.07L | 2 | 52kg | $26 | |
| 13 | 10 | GEEGEES MISTRUTH | Mark Walker | Michael Dee | 99L | 1 | 54kg | $11 | |
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