It was a long time coming, but at last the milestone arrived. When Phoenix Risen stormed home in the sixth race on Saturday, 29 November 2025, with Demar Williams in the saddle, trainer Lawrence Freemantle was celebrating his 300th career victory.
For Freemantle, the achievement was both hard‑earned and deeply satisfying, the culmination of years of persistence in a demanding profession.
In conversation with this website, Freemantle reflected on his journey, the highs and lows of training, and what lies ahead.
THE QUICK GALLOPER (TQG) – You must be feeling a great deal of pride and emotion, reaching 300 wins?
LAWRENCE FREEMANTLE (LF) – Absolutely. It feels wonderful to celebrate this milestone, especially with my family and friends around me. But I won’t pretend it’s been easy. Training horses has brought me joy, yes, but also plenty of challenges over the years.
TQG: Who was your very first winner?
LF: That was King of the Band, ridden by the late Leo Miller back in October 2001. I’ll never forget it. That victory gave me immense joy and, more importantly, the belief that I truly belonged in the trainers’ colony.
TQG: Who were some of your contemporaries at the Training School?
LF: I trained alongside Barrington Rambally, Dwight Chen, Howard Jaghai, Leroy Tomlinson, Derrick Parram, and Robert Darby Jr, among others.
TQG: Which horses stand out as the best you’ve conditioned?
LF: Two in particular: Mr Skill and Military Move. Mr Skill was a difficult horse, with plenty of issues, but he still managed to deliver multiple victories. Military Move was consistent and reliable. I won nine races with him, which speaks volumes.
TQG: After 300 wins, what comes next for Lawrence Freemantle?
LF: I’m not going anywhere. Reaching 600 wins might be a tall order, but I’ll certainly be giving it my best. I’ll keep working hard, keep conditioning horses, and keep striving for more success.
TQG: Lawrence Freemantle, congratulations once again on reaching 300 wins.
LF: Thank you very much.
