A gear change sparked the first signs of a form revival from Randwick Guineas winner Communist and now Michael Freedman is hoping a change of luck at the barrier draw can provide another important boost.
The four-year-old has drawn a single-figure gate for just the second time this preparation as he bids to turn around a frustrating spring in Saturday’s $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
However, Freedman feels barriers haven’t been solely to blame for Communist’s lacklustre form, prompting him to put blinkers on the gelding prior to his last start in the Golden Eagle.
He was satisfied they had an effect, the horse digging deep despite a tough run to finish eighth and less than three lengths from Japanese raider Obamburumai.
“He was a little bit out of sorts early in the campaign then I did think his run in the Golden Eagle was full of merit,” Freedman said.
“He never really got on the track at any stage and he fought it out pretty well to be still in contention with a couple of hundred metres to go because he was entitled to weaken out of it.
“With the blinkers back on, it was a much-improved run and he seems to have gone on with it since then.
“From a good alley on Saturday, hopefully he can be in the mix.”
Communist is the only Group 1 winner in Saturday’s field and remains solid as a $16 chance.
Freedman has been happy with his build up off the track and says he only needs a repeat of his Golden Eagle effort to be a shot.
“If he can front up and reproduce a similar type of effort to what he did in the Golden Eagle, then on his day, he is certainly good enough to match it with a few of those,” he said.
“Rachel (King) came in and had a sit on him on Tuesday and she was really happy with how he felt underneath her. He worked in the blinkers again and she was very happy.”
Freedman confirmed Communist would press on to next month’s $2 million The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick if he was competitive on Saturday.
