A light lead-up is on the agenda for imported galloper Our Ivanhowe who could attempt the Caulfield Cup at just his second run from a spell.
The German-bred import is back at Freedman’s Flemington stable preparing for the upcoming spring campaign.
Since joining Freedman’s stable earlier in the year Our Ivanhowe has had one start, finishing seventh in the Robert A Lee Stakes at Morphettville in May.
Our Ivanhowe has since spent time at Pinecliff under the watchful eye of Freedman’s brother, and training partner, Anthony.
Freedman said he has built up a good understanding of imported gallopers and oversaw the preparation of another German import Lucas Cranach when that horse finished fifth in the Caulfield Cup before running third in the 2011 Melbourne Cup.
He said Our Ivanhowe was likely to have his first run back from a spell in September.
“My experience with these types of horses, and I’ve had a bit to do with them, I tend to think that they can go down very quickly,” Freedman told Melbourne radio station RSN.
“In that respect I may only be giving him one lead-up run into the Caulfield Cup and then if everything pans out we’ll probably head on to the Melbourne Cup.”
Freedman said plans to run Our Ivanhowe in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups would be dependent on the weight given by Racing Victoria’s handicapper Greg Carpenter.
Lucas Cranach was beset with feet problems that ultimately ended his career but Freedman said Our Ivanhowe had no such problems.
“Like a lot of these German horses you have to be very mindful of their feet but his feet are very good at the moment,” Freedman said.
“We’ve got a system of shoeing him that I’m confident will be perfect for him going forward.”
The lifting of bans over the importation of German horses into Australia was good news for Freedman who said Guardini and Shimrano were Australia bound.
Both gallopers are owned by the same interests as Our Ivanhowe.
Freedman said plans are being discussed for Guardini to contest the Caulfield Cup while Shimrano, being a northern hemisphere three-year-old, may ship to Australia, be spelled and then prepared for a late summer and autumn campaign.
