Golden Slipper-winning trainers Michael and Richard Freedman have flexed some of their spring carnival muscle with stakes winners Forbidden Love, Tiger Of Malay and Glistening all stepping out in barrier trials at Randwick.
Stable star and Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside wasn’t in action on Friday with his next public hitout scheduled for August 20, but even in his absence the Freedmans have a talented group of horses.
BTC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Tiger Of Malay made ground to finish fifth to Fituese in a 900m heat with stablemate and Reisling Stakes victor Glistening given a quiet time to finish eighth.
Michael Freedman said Tiger Of Malay could kick off in Saturday week’s Up And Coming Stakes with the 2021 Golden Rose a possible long-term target.
“He seems to have come back from his Queensland trip in good order. His trial was good this morning, he finished it off under his own steam and Tommy (Berry) was pretty happy,” Freedman said.
“We might enter him for the Up And Coming next week but the conditions of that race, being a quality handicap, probably aren’t ideal.
“Otherwise, we will map out something, possibly towards the Golden Rose.”
Glistening has not raced since finishing unplaced in the Golden Slipper and she is set to follow a traditional three-year-old filly’s path, starting in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 21.
Group 1 winner Forbidden Love stretched out nicely for fifth to Mamaragan in her 900m trial but with her major targets in the latter part of the spring, she won’t resume until next month.
“She’s carrying a bit of extra condition so she might take a run or two to have her back to her top,” Freedman said.
“She’s got a fairly long campaign, her grand finals don’t come up until late October.
“She’ll run first up in the Toy Show in a couple of weeks and head through that mares’ series, possibly towards The Invitation and the Golden Eagle.”
There were several other stars on show at Randwick, including J J Atkins winner Converge who finished sixth in Tiger Of Malay’s heat, while Four Moves Ahead hit the line strongly for an eye-catching fourth to Embracer in a 1000m trial.
