Lee Freedman has Oaks-placed filly Giggleswick primed to give him his second VRC St Leger Stakes win at Flemington.
The Hall Of Fame trainer won his only St Leger with Frontier Boy in 1990 but his time may have arrived again with the daughter of Elusive Quality who has shown remarkable resilience this campaign.
“I think she is a very good chance,” Freedman said.
Giggleswick, Precious Lorraine and Dame Claire are the only fillies in the St Leger which until recently has been dominated by the males.
In 2008 Inkster and Moment in Time dead-heated for first while last year another filly, Exceptionally, beat the Freedman-trained Gallant Lady.
Giggleswick carries the famous maroon and white Darley colours and eight weeks is the longest gap she has had between runs in her second campaign which started in August last year.
She is also well travelled having been placed third to La Fantastique in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) in February and fourth last start in the Group Three Fillies Classic (2400m) in Adelaide.
“She’s had a long campaign, that is the only knock on her, but she seems to be thriving,” Freedman said.
“She’s eating well, she is bright and bubbly and I think she will run the trip right out.
“She’s as tough as nails and has travelled everywhere.”
Freedman said that with a better judged ride from Ryan Maloney it may have been a different result last start in the Fillies Classic.
“I think Ryan missed the boat on her a bit as he let the favourite (Precious Lorraine) get around her, sprint away, and put her in a pocket.”
Craig Williams replaces Maloney on Giggleswick on Monday and Freedman has chosen to put blinkers back on after trying her in winkers.
“The blinkers might just give her that little bit of acceleration when she needs it,” Freedman said.
Trainer David Hayes said Precious Lorraine, a three-time stakes winner, needed a firm track to show her best and had to be respected on her latest form.
He also has lightly raced Fastnet Rock gelding Mystic Tere Toa who won his third race start by eight lengths over 2108 metres at Echuca.
“He won in a canter the other day and is facing a big jump in class, but if it rains he is good in the wet and I reckon he will stay all day,” Hayes said.
Makybe Diva’s first foal Rockstardom will be a sentimental favourite as he chases his first race win in the St Leger,.
Placed at two of his six starts, he was sixth at his most recent run in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2406m) at Caulfield.
Glen Boss, who won three Melbourne Cups on Makybe Diva, will have his first ride on Rockstardom.
AAP TURF
