Co-trainer Sam Freedman has wiped away concerns of an inside draw being a hindrance to Elliptical in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington.
Elliptical has barrier two in Saturday’s 1600m contest for three-year-olds and there are many who consider it a poor draw for the colt.
A first-up winner in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18, Elliptical drew out wide that day and got clear galloping room.
However, Elliptical did run second in both the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Spring Champion Stakes last spring from barrier one and was an unlucky fourth in the Listed Exford Plate at Flemington when diving between runners late.
Freedman said it will be up to Blake Shinn to navigate a path.
“The query is those on pace may not be the horses to beat while also being a query at the mile,” Freedman told RSN.
“We won’t bustle him to be anywhere, but we don’t want to be dragging him right out of the race.
“If we can look to get him out into space, into clear air at some stage, then that will be ideal.
“He has shown he can take runs between them.
“In the Exford first-up last prep he took gaps up along the fence, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue and we’ll leave that up to Blake to work it all out.”
Freedman, who trains Elliptical in partnership with his father Anthony, said the colt was deserving of a Group 1 win after two narrow defeats at the highest level in the spring.
He said the colt would strip very fit on Saturday after being slightly underdone first-up.
“He was fit enough for the 1400 metres, but he wasn’t completely screwed down by any means,” Freedman said.
“He had a wide run, and he was tiring a touch in the last furlong.
“He was still making good ground, but he pulled up having a big blow.
“He’s fit now and probably needed that run to top him off. He’d had three trials, but he was ready for a more conservative run first-up.
“He’ll see the trip out.”
