Michael Freedman will squeeze in a quiet Christmas Day celebration with his family but with three runners at Randwick on Boxing Day, the trainer won’t be getting much respite.
Along with Good Friday, Christmas is one of only two days each year when no race meetings are held but that does not mean a day off for trainers.
“There is normal trackwork then I’ll go home, open a few presents and have a bit of lunch. That’s Christmas day,” Freedman said.
However, there might be room for a few more celebrations on Saturday if Mushaireb, Greek Hero or Outback Diva can win at Randwick.
Mushaireb was nominated for the Group Three Summer Cup but connections have opted to take the softer option and the Dynamic Syndications gelding will contest the Ranvet Handicap (1800m).
With three runs under his belt, including a midfield effort behind Kirwan’s Lane on Villiers Stakes day, Freedman expects the seven-year-old to be ready to peak.
“He usually does take a few runs to reach his peak fitness but it was quite a good run the other day,” Freedman said.
“He certainly strips a lot fitter and he’s drawn well so it looks like a nice sort of race for him now he is fully fit.”
Greek Hero is in line for a change of luck after a well documented first-up third at Kembla Grange when jockey Nash Rawiller was questioned over his riding tactics and later cleared.
The horse again had no luck in the Nowra Cup last start when he did too much work early from a wide gate and was entitled to tire for third.
“He seems to have come through it well so hopefully he can bounce back,” Freedman said.
Diminutive mare Outback Diva will round out the team when she resumes in the final race and her fresh record suggests she can be competitive.
“She’s a very genuine little mare and she is in and around her right grade,” Freedman said.
“There’s not much of her so she doesn’t take a lot of racing to get to fitness so she should be fit enough to put in a decent run.”
While none of the Freedman trio are superstars, they have all been good money-spinners and the stable is hopeful that can continue this summer.
“They’re in at their right time of year where you hope they can be competitive in some of these city-class races before the really strong ones get going into the autumn,” Freedman said.
