Ballarat trainer will attempt to get some black type for his unlucky mare Belle Et Riche when she heads to Sandown.
The Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) on Saturday will be Belle Et Riche’s chance at collecting an all-important stakes win before Melbourne’s Festival Of Racing gets into full swing.
Freedman has bemoaned a lack of luck for Belle Et Riche in her brief career to date that has seen the daughter of Rich Enuffwin three of her nine starts while finishing in the placings in her remaining six appearances at the races.
The four-year-old showed a glimpse of her class as a three-year-old with an exciting win at Sandown and Freedman delayed her campaign until the end of spring where the mare strung together three placings on end to start her campaign.
Belle Et Riche picked up an important Saturday city win over 1400m when successful at Flemington on January 14 which prompted Freedman too look at Saturday’s stakes race.
“I thought it was a suitable way to go with her given that she’s up and racing and racing really well and I think she deserves a crack at it,” Freedman said.
“She’s had three weeks between runs so I don’t think coming back in trip will be an issue for her.
“She had a week on the water-walker after she won at Flemington and has been in the stables since.
“I can’t fault the horse.”
Ben Melham takes over on Saturday with Jordan Childs, who has been aboard the mare in her past six starts, opting to ride the Grahame Begg-trained Vespertine.
Childs has had a good association with Begg and won the 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes on Written By for the trainer.
“She goes there in good form and so long as she gets a good run in transit, the speed of the race won’t affect her too much,” Freedman said.
“She has raced with a lot of bad luck, but things worked out well for her last time.”
Freedman has not locked away another start after Saturday preferring to see how Belle Et Riche handles the class rise.
“She’s suited to big tracks and that’s what we’ve aimed for, so we’ll see what happens on Saturday and work it out from there,” Freedman said.
