Anthony and Sam Freedman might only have one jumper in training, but that hasn’t stopped them finding one of the sports newest stars after Bedford (NZ) (Tavistock) claimed the A$125,000 Brendan Drechsler Hurdle (3500m) at Pakenham on Sunday.

The rising 10-year-old has now won three of his four jumping starts and put his hand up for further feature race success this season.

“He is exciting,” jockey Tom Ryan professed. “He is a big horse as well, so I’d say he wouldn’t have any problem jumping a fence.

“It’s an honour to ride a winner for the Freedmans in these colours.”

Bedford was heavily supported in betting and jumped favourite and held off the challenge of Instigator, with last year’s winner Saunter Boy finishing in fifth.

Campbell Rawiller rode Beford to win last start at Warrnambool in what was his first jumps appearance since his first win over the obstacles at Coleraine last year.

Out of the four-win Stark South mare Dastaria, Bedford was purchased by Freedman Racing for $320,000 out of the Brighthill Farm draft at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.

The Brendan Drechsler Hurdle, formerly conducted at Bendigo, is named after the former Bendigo Jockey Club President and current Country Racing Victoria director, who is a passionate advocate for jumps racing.