Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races

[my miss storm cat]

Andretti on her way into quarantine
Story By Jason Hickson

Monday, 12 November 2007: Leading trainer Lee Freedman has been granted permission to take a travelling companion with Miss Andretti to Hong Kong.

Miss Andretti brought up her fifth Group 1 win in The Age Classic up the straight at Flemington on Saturday and will today head into quarantine at Sandown prior to her leaving Australia.

As she is the only Australian horse competing in next month's international day in Hong Kong the HKJC has granted Freedman permission to bring along a companion.

Freedman said travelling to Newmarket earlier this year with a few other Australian horses was a good experience and allowed all the runners to settle in well, but his trip to Japan with Makybe Diva, who went alone, wasn't a situation that he would be repeating.

“I think it's crucial with travelling,” Freedman told Sport 927. “With nearly every horse but certainly with mares it's crucial you have a companion with them. They just do that much better and relax a lot quicker and things are a lot easier.”

Joining the mare in quarantine today and on to Hong Kong as a companion will be 2002 Group 1 winner Barkada.

Miss Andretti will contest the $2.2 million International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 9 and will meet the likes of top local stars Absolute Champion, Medic Power and Sacred Kingdom.