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Scratched from the Benalla Cup, Ain’tnodeeldun has been successful at Sandown.

The decision to miss the Benalla Cup to concentrate on a shorter race at Sandown has secured Ain'Tnodeeldun victory for Anthony and Sam Freedman. 

Ain'tnodeeldun was one of the favoured runners in the Benalla Cup (2100m) last Friday, but with a race in mind for the gelding at Moonee Valley later in the month, the Freedmans elected to keep the now six-year-old for Sunday's Quayclean Handicap (1800m). 

Ridden by Billy Egan, Ain'tnodeeldun was saved for a last crack at the $4.20 favourite Forget Me and got up to score by three-quarters-of-a-length with Sibaaq ($5) a short-head away third. 

"We scratched from the Benalla Cup to try and keep that speed in his legs over 1800 metres," Sam Freedman said. 

"He's going super." 

Ain'tnodeeldun was once a class three-year-old that has been beset by problems throughout his career. 

He has had tendon problems and a wind operation but went back-to-back on Sunday after scoring over 1600m at Moonee Valley on September 9. 

"The owners have been very patient," Freedman said. 

"It's a big thing to have owners that patient as it is so easy to get frustrated with a horse that has needed time to get back and costs a lot of money to have in work. 

"We did feel this preparation that he has come back the best he ever has. 

"It was a great ride by Billy. He might have pressed the button a bit soon on the second horse, but Billy just waited, and he was strong in the end." 

Freedman said the stable had picked out the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27 as Ain'tnodeeldun's target race for the spring. 

"Over the 2040 metres at The Valley, he's got a great record," Freedman said. 

"He's a hard horse to travel. He's had a wind op and if we put him on a float for a long time, he can fill up with a bit of mucus. 

"All the team at Flemington and Pincecliff have done a great job, and he is a stable favourite." 

Ain'tnodeeldun swallows them up at the death @FreedmanRacing @TheBeeegan pic.twitter.com/l04qePiK4C

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 1, 2023