(Media Release)
30 December 2002

MANY wrote him off and some said he was too old, but seven-year-old Free My Heart silenced them all when he thrashed a small field of competitive milers to win the R500 000, Grade 1, Queen's Plate over 1 600 metres at Kenilworth on Saturday.

They looked for something to beat the reigning Horse Of The Year saying he looked a bit jaded in his last run in the Green Point Stakes and remarking - "it's not that he has had too much racing, but he is getting a bit old."

When it came to the crunch with just 400 metres to run, those "old" legs stretched out and strode past the opposition to win as he liked by a length from African Lion, Eli's Game and Raining Roses.

In victory he won his seventh Grade 1 race and pushed his stake earnings to R2 871 475, confirming that, at weight for age, there was nothing to touch him over a mile.

It was a great day for one of South Africa's greatest thoroughbred personalities, Graham Beck, who was at the course to watch the son of Jallad who he bred and owns in partnership with John Newsome of England.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer was visibly moved by the performance of Free My Heart, saying it was an emotional moment.

Asked whether Free My Heart would run in the R1 000 000 J&B Met, Dean replied that after Saturday's run he derserved to have a crack at the Western Cape's premier event.

"He won the Champions Cup in record time over 2 000 metres at Clairwood and he deserves to have a run. But I will discuss it with his owners first."

Jockey Karl Neisius was full of praise for the seven-year-old and said the victory for himself was a special moment. He last won the race on Flaming Rock in 1990.

Free My Heart has an outstanding record in the Queen's Plate - first in 2000, second to Trademark in 2001 and first again this year.

Jockey Jeff Lloyd was the hero of the two other features on the day - first winning the R100 000 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap on Boston Globe, getting up in the last strides, then driving the filly Crimson Palace to a comfortable win in the R250 000 Cape Paddock Stakes.

Both mounts were saddled by Mike Bass who also saddled Orace Barfoot to win the second race and Laredo Gold to win the fifth.

Issued by Ken Tweddell
Group Marketing Manager
Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd