Gina’s A Star shone through at Ballarat on Friday June 12 in challenging conditions, with thick fog blanketing the course.

The four-year-old mare overcame a wide barrier draw, beginning brilliantly and surging straight to the lead. Dean Yendall controlled the tempo and was able to shoot clear clear at the top of the straight much to the delight of Freedman and her ownership group.

The win was very special for the team, being Mitch Freedman’s 40th success of the season, surpassing the 39 winners set in the 24/25 season. Freedman said “She has always been quite a nice mare and we had to forgo an enforced layoff after a bleed, so really grateful for the patience and trust from Mike Hirst and her owners.”

Gina’s A Star has a strong pedigree behind her, out of stakes-placed Written Tycoon mare Gina’s Hope, who Freedman also trained for Mike Hirst, and by quality stallion Starspangledbanner. We certainly feel there is plenty more to come with her!

A dominant display on wet ground, Gina’s A Star looks capable of building on the performance in the winter months ahead.