Godolphin and the Anthony Freedman stable continue to be a good mix after Hanseatic scored on debut in a stakes race at Sandown.
The Freedman stable may not have large numbers for Godolphin but continually turn out winners for the “blue army”.
Hanseatic continued that trend in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) on Saturday and will attempt to emulate the feat of stablemate Lyre in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February.
Lyre was one of six two-year-olds Freedman trained for Godolphin last season while this year the stable has three, with Hanseatic, a relation to unbeaten champion Black Caviar, the first to race.
Ridden by Luke Currie, Hanseatic, the $4.20 favourite, scored by 1-3/4 lengths from Dubai Star ($11) with River Night ($26) a half-head away third.
Freedman’s son and assistant trainer Sam Freedman said what impressed him was the way Hanseatic relaxed and then quickened over the 1000m journey.
“We’ve got high hopes for this horse to measure up to better races, especially over 1200 metres,” Freedman said.
“A big thank you to Godolphin. Obviously James Cummings is their main trainer but they’ve kept a lot of the horses we’ve had in the families that Lee and Anthony trained in years gone past.
“We were going to head to the paddock regardless of the result today and he gave a few signs in the yard that he might be ready for a little break, so we’ll give him a short break and look to go back to back in the Blue Diamond.”