Anthony Freedman has left his options open with debut winner Papillon who is nominated for stakes races at Caulfield and Morphettville on Saturday.
The Rock Of Gibraltar filly, who was sent out an odds-on favourite when she scored first up over 1000m at Sandown on April 18, is nominated for the Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and the Dequetteville Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville, both at Listed level.
A $160,000 purchase at last year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Papillon is from Encosta De Lago mare Perfect Persuasion, a provincial winner and Talindert Stakes-placed sister to former star filly Alinghi.
Alinghi was a four-time Group One winner of the 2005 Newmarket Handicap, Robert Sangster Stakes, 2004 Thousand Guineas and Blue Diamond Stakes.
She later bled and was sent to the US and was successful at Group Three level from two starts.
“She’s a very promising filly,” Freedman said of Papillon, who is raced by Markdel Racing Freedman Brothers, managed by brother Lee, along with six stable clients.
“She wasn’t impressive on debut but she didn’t do a lot right and she will improve and is probably looking for a mile (1600m) as a three-year-old.
“So to win at 1000 metres was good.
“In my mind she is a black-type filly and we will pick out one of these races and then probably give her a break before we get her ready for the spring.
Freedman also has Textiles and Gowana among the 28 nominations for the Redoute’s Choice while Gowana is also among the 13 entries for the Dequetteville.
Patinack Farm trainer John Thompson has four nominations in the Redoute’s Choice including topweight Maury, a last start Flemington 1200m winner.
David Hayes has two Redoute’s Choice fillies nominated in Alzora and Maraatib.
The Robert Hickmott stable has six unraced two-year-olds entered including the Redoute’s Choice colt Wales, who is from Makybe Diva’s half-sister Valkyrie Diva, and Landale, a son of Dylan Thomas.
Landale is a member of the first Australian crop of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Irish Derby victor.
