A lack of suitable sprinting options for two of his three-year-old fillies has forced Sydney trainer Michael Freedman to turn his attention to Melbourne.
Hip Hip Hurrah and Blanc De Blanc have been dispatched to Caulfield to contest the Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.
“They don’t provide for sprinters up here, so they will go down there and we’ll try our luck,” Freedman said.
Hip Hip Hurrah has raced on only the two occasions, registering wins at Muswellbrook followed by a Stakes victory at Scone.
The daughter of Snitzel missed the spring, but has pleased Freedman with two trials in Sydney in preparation for her return, scoring at Canterbury and then running second behind stablemate Queen Of The Ball at Randwick.
Queen Of The Ball also heads to Caulfield to run in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m).
“She’s only small and given she is only a Listed winner, these set weights and penalties races makes it difficult for her,” Freedman said of Hip Hip Hurrah.
“But she seems to have come back well.”
Blanc De Blanc has had six starts and won on debut in maiden grade at Newcastle before being tried at Stakes level.
The daughter of I Am Invincible filled a place on four consecutive occasions before running sixth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill last March, her last race day appearance.
Blanc De Blanc missed the spring through injury and has had the benefit of two trials leading into her return, the latest when third behind Malkovich at Randwick last month.
“She tweaked a little ligament in her leg,” Freedman said on missing the spring.
“We ‘ummed and ahhed’ about whether she stopped, but she had a pretty busy autumn as a two-year-old so we thought, let’s just give her the spring and start again.
“Going to Caulfield for your first start back, I’m a bit unsure about that, but she has come back in great order.”
