Trainers Richard and Will Freedman are relying on a conspicuous gelding and two mystery European mares to continue their stable’s winning streak at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Love Tap is a striking galloper with a grey coat that is turning whiter by the day and will make him easily identifiable for the Vale Nick Moraitis Handicap (1500m).
One of Love Tap’s opponents will be stablemate Schwesterherz, a French-bred mare who has done most of her racing in Germany and is set to make her Australian debut.
READ: BEN MELHAM’S EX UNLOADS ON HIS NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH JAMIE KAH
The Freedman stable is also represented by the Irish-bred mare Soffika who had a four-start English race career before lining up in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1400m).
Imported mares Schwesterherz and Soffika will carry the colours of Golden Slipper Stay Inside (pictured) when they make their Australian debuts at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy
Schwesterherz and Soffika will race in familiar colours at Rosehill as they were purchased by Craig Pickford, a part-owner of the brilliant Stay Inside, winner of the Golden Slipper last year.
“Craig purchased Schwesterherz and Soffika to eventually go to Stay Inside at stud,” Will Freedman said.
“These mares are being given the chance to prove whether they are good enough this preparation to decide if they race on next season.
“If they don’t indicate they can improve their value on the racetrack they will be off to stud in the spring.
“They will have a couple of chances to show us whether they want to keep being racehorses or if they want to go off and be broodmares.’
Love Tap is the favoured runner of the stable duo at $14 with Schwesterherz rated a $31 chance behind Wicklow who heads betting at $3.80.
PUNTERS CASH IN ON INSIDE WORD FROM TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS
Freedman said Love Tap has trained on well since winning a barrier trial at Rosehill following an unplaced first-up run at Flemington.
The talented Love Tap is protecting an unbeaten second-up record and has shown previously he is effective on rain-affected going.
“Love Tap is a hard horse to get a proper read on,” Freedman said.
“We were very happy with his trial but he just sort of goes through the motions at trackwork.
“But we are expecting an improved run although he has struck a pretty handy benchmark 88 so he will need to bring his ‘A game’ to be competitive.”
Co-trainers William (pictured) and Richard Freedman are enjoying a good run of success and are looking to keep the momentum going this weekend. Picture: Getty Images
Freedman anticipates Love Tap will take up a forward position early while Schwesterherz will be ridden conservatively early which is different to how she has been positioned in recent barrier trials.
“They will be at opposite ends of the field,” Freedman said.
“Love Tap will roll forward and be up on the pace, trying to dictate to his rivals.
“Schwesterherz is likely to go back. We have probably been riding her a bit upside down in her trials.
“We will ride her with cover and I think she will have a pretty good turn of speed to close out the race.
“She might take a little while to get used to our style of racing but she is going well and her form in Germany is pretty compelling for a race like this.”
Schwesterherz has won three races (and five seconds) from 17 starts in Europe, winning at Listed level in Germany over 1400m and she also boasts four runner-up efforts at stakes level.
Soffika has only had four starts in England, winning on debut under Ryan Moore three years ago. She was runner-up at Group 3 level but hasn’t started in a race since October, 2020.
Freedman said Soffika has demonstrated her competitive spirit with a couple of solid barrier trials in recent weeks.
“She is not a good trackworker, either,” Freedman said of Soffika. “She wouldn’t beat a ‘maidener’ if you put her in a gallop at home.
“But then she goes to the trials and trials really well, putting in a big effort.
Alakahan is out to give the Freedmans a second stakes win together when he tackles the Caloundra Cup. Picture: Greg Irvine, Magic Millions
“I’m not sure how she will handle the wet going but if she gets through it, I can see her running very competitively.”
The father and son training partnership celebrated their first stakes winner together when Juan Diva won the Group 3 Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm last week and they are chasing more feature race success at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Their tough stayer Alakahan lines up in the Listed $300,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) and Notions takes her place in the field for the Group 3 $200,000 Winx Guineas (1600m).
Alakahan was withdrawn from the Stayer’s Cup at Randwick last week but Freedman said the stayer is at his peak for the Caloundra Cup.
“He actually slipped a shoe the day before the Stayer’s Cup,” Freedman said.
“It required some treatment and we knew the Caloundra Cup was coming up so we took the conservative route and waited for this race.
“He’s in terrific form and should run very well. I think he finds himself in the right race.
“He came here as a ‘maidener’ and he has been a good, honest horse who has gone through the grades and it would be nice to get that black type win.”
Notions, who like Love Taps is raced by Dean and Adam Watt’s Dynamic Syndications, has earned her chance at stakes level after her good last start win at Goulburn.
“She will have to run up to her best to be competitive in this race but she continues to improve,” he said.
“We feel this is a good opportunity for a three-year-old filly to try and get some black type.”
It was a perfect end to a sad week for the connections of Monte Ditto who didn’t let them down from a tricky spot in the Midway Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.
Yggdrasil, named after a heavy metal song, slogged through the extremely heavy track conditions to win a stamina-sapping staying test at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Consistent rain on a torrential weekend in Sydney forced stewards to call off Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill Gardens at the halfway point.
Back racing on a heavy surface at Newcastle however our best and value selections are both advantaged in the ground.
Heavy (8) track for Moruya Friday with the rail in the true position and we have to wait until the last for the best of the day however confident the patience will be rewarded.
It has taken a miracle to break the curse. Well, this is what owner-breeder Gerry Harvey wants to believe as his boom filly De An Andretti is readied for her return to racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The winners look well concealed at Murwillumbah on Thursday however a couple stand out as good bets.
Great to be racing on a good track at Hawkesbury and it looks a solid meeting from a punting perspective with a couple of good things on the program.
Tony Brassel’s best bets for Kensington Wednesday.
Copyright © Racing Internet Services Pty Ltd. 2022
Stay in control. Leave before you lose it. Gamble responsibly. Think! About your choices. Call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au or www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
Recent Comments