Favourite Seascape is no certainty to take her place at Rosehill with trainer Michael Freedman still weighing up his options for the promising filly.
The daughter of super sire I Am Invincible controlled the race on debut at Gosford and didn’t give her rivals a chance, scoring an emphatic 4-3/4 length win.
She is an early $2.50 betting app favourite for the ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Handicap (1100m) on Saturday, but Freedman wants to have a closer analysis of the race, and a discussion with owner John Camilleri, before deciding if she runs.
“Saturday is an option. We’re not one hundred per cent there because there is the option of going to Brisbane the week after instead,” Freedman said.
“We will have a good look at the field and see where we think she is going to be in the run because it is a big field.
“It will probably set up quite a bit differently to what Gosford did.
“At this stage, with where she is at and how she has done this week, I’m probably slightly leaning towards the idea of running her, but I will chat to John tomorrow (Friday).”
If Seascape does run at Rosehill and performs to expectations, she is likely to be given a black-type opportunity at her next start in either the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 18 or the Carter Stakes (1200m) at Doomben a week later.
Freedman admitted the youngster had flown under the radar prior to her first start when she started a $7 chance.
“She surprised me a little bit. I was happy with her trials going into it, but I didn’t expect her to perform like she did,” he said.
“She has taken a little bit of time. She was hyperactive early on in the piece.
“It’s not that she hasn’t shown a bit at home, but she put it all together on race day. Hopefully she can keep doing that.”
Freedman is coming off a successful Sydney autumn carnival in which his stable featured prominently.
Despite having a relatively boutique team of 50 horses, Freedman plundered the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes with Manaal while also picking up black-type features with Ducasse (Carbine Club Stakes), Panic (South Pacific Classic) and Wymark (Tulloch Stakes).
“Whenever you’re competing on any of those big days, let alone winning a few of them, it’s a big thrill and it’s a credit to all the staff,” he said.
Freedman confirmed Manaal had come through her unplaced run in last Saturday’s Champagne Stakes in good order despite not handling the heavy track.
She has been sent for a spell and will be prepared for the early Princess Series races in the spring.
