Breeding & Racing Magazine

Split Looms Between Slade & Freedman

The successful combination of Slade Bloodstock syndications & the Lee Freedman stable "is almost certain to finish in coming weeks," reported The Age in Melbourne. Slade Bloodstock "which bought the high-class mare Alinghi with Freedman & enjoyed stunning success with the mare, has told members of its syndicates that the association is all but over". The newspaper noted "one of the sticking points in the deteriorating relationship was the switching earlier this year of smart sprinter Here De Angels from Freedman to Mark Kavanagh". While Rob Slade "has denied any ill-feeling between himself & Freedman, it appears the business arrangement between the pair has soured in recent times. In an email sent to a number of syndicate owners throughout Australia yesterday, Slade indicated trainers such as Kavanagh would be taking the bulk of the company's horses in future". Slade's message stated: "This email may or may not come as a shock to you but many of our horses will be leaving the Freedman stable. I have no rift with Lee whatsoever, nor him with me, but the (Freedmans) are heading in a different path as most would see it & what has worked for us in the past has changed & isn't heading forward. The stables are, as most are aware, very much Darley-biased in numbers & with that naturally focused (on Darley) & that does not put us as a priority in reality. I have felt the communication & focus has diminished, from my end." The Slade operation "told owners all accounts must be settled with the Freedman stable before any horses could leave the property". The Slade list of Freedman-trained stars has included multiple Gr1-winner Alinghi, Brockman's Lass, Here De Angels, Fullazz, Evilweb, Anhinga & Belcentra.