The Melbourne Cup is calling for the impressive Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained import Without A Fight who strung together back-to-back impressive Brisbane wins at just his third start down under after his easy 2023 The Q22 victory on Stradbroke Handicap Day.

Nonconformist (pictured in Melbourne) was brave running second to the 2023 The Q22 winner Without A Fight in Brisbane on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Irish-bred son of Teofilo had his first Australian run when 13th to Gold Trip in last year’s Group 1 $8 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) and is undefeated since.
He had his first run since then on May 27 easily accounting for his rivals at Eagle Farm in the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup (1800m).
Without A Fight was huge again up in grade for Saturday’s Group 2 $1.2 million The Q22 (2000m) and looked in a class of his own coming from the back to run down his rivals and salute in style thanks to a lovely ride by Mark Zahra.
Serpentine led The Q22 field around while Zahra was happy to sit about fourth last on the well-backed $2.80 favourite.
After leading onto the straight Serpentine dashed away early looking to steal the show but was quickly surpassed by the backmarkers making their runs.
In the blink of an eye Without A Fight flashed down the outside and was full of running as he took over in the lead and went on to defeat the Grahame Begg-trained Nonconformist ($16) who looked far more switched on today.
Edward Cummings‘ multiple Group 1 winning mare Duais ($7) got a lovely run throughout and had her chance but was just off the best of them rounding out The Q22 trifecta in third.
The performance from The Q22 winner marked Without A Fight as a special stayer with a turn of foot to boot, the galloper sustaining his run for the outstanding and lucrative Brisbane win.
Connections are now sure to set their sights on the spring’s staying majors including the 2023 Melbourne Cup at Flemington over the two miles again on Tuesday the 7th of November.
All-in Melbourne Cup 2023 odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au currently have Without A Fight listed at $14 in the pre-nominations markets that are available in full by clicking here.
2023 The Q22 Results & Finishing Order
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 11 | 59kg | $2.80F | |||
2 | 5 | NONCONFORMIST | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 1.89L | 12 | 59kg | $16 | ||
3 | 12 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Sam Clipperton | 2.24L | 3 | 57kg | $7 | ||
4 | 7 | LUNCIES (GB) | Kris Lees | Nash Rawiller | 2.58L | 8 | 59kg | $19 | ||
5 | 2 | NUMERIAN (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | Jason Collett | 4.39L | 2 | 59kg | $6 | ||
6 | 1 | HUETOR (FR) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ryan Maloney | 4.76L | 10 | 59kg | $9.50 | ||
7 | 14 | FAME | Peter G Moody | James McDonald | 5.43L | 13 | 56kg | $11 | ||
8 | 6 | BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) | Michael Moroney | John Allen | 5.62L | 9 | 59kg | $51 | ||
9 | 8 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 5.92L | 4 | 59kg | $9 | ||
10 | 9 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Joshua Parr | 8.25L | 1 | 59kg | $31 | ||
11 | 4 | NO COMPROMISE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 8.99L | 6 | 59kg | $71 | ||
12 | 10 | LION’S ROAR (NZ) | John O’Shea | Craig Williams | 10.14L | 7 | 59kg | $31 | ||
13 | 13 | MEDIA AWARD | Glenn Thornton | Damien Thornton | 11.51L | 5 | 57kg | $101 | ||
14 | 11 | KOLDING (NZ) | Chris Waller | James Orman | 22.99L | 14 | 59kg | $71 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.