Lightly raced import Sarrasin has overcome a couple of setbacks since joining Lee and Anthony Freedman who are now preparing to unveil him at the races.
The former French horse is scheduled to make his Australian debut in Saturday’s David Bourke Memorial Handicap (1600m) at Pakenham.
A Listed winner in France, Sarrasin hasn’t raced since his second to Erupt in a Group Three race at Chantilly in June last year.
He was bought by clients of the Freedmans and arrived in Australia early this year.
“We were very impressed with the horse but he had a couple of small setbacks,” Lee Freedman said.
“The second one, he struck himself and had a very big bleed into his leg cavity which was worrying. It wasn’t serious but we just had to mark time for two or three months while that resolved and he’s been very good lately.”
Sarrasin has had an arthroscopy on his near fore fetlock and an MRI since he last raced, which Freedman said was covering all bases.
“We just wanted to make sure there was no damage to the leg, which there wasn’t, but at the same time it was quite serious bruising,” he said.
Saturday’s race is slated as his kick-off point as long as the ground isn’t too hard.
“I don’t know that 1600 metres is his go but I’m very much looking forward to getting the horse to the races and giving him a bit of race experience here in Australia,” Freedman said.
“It will only be a cameo appearance, maybe one or two runs, at this time of year and then back out for a little break and get him back for the autumn.
“But we love the horse. We think he’s a lovely horse and he’s pretty much done everything right the last few months.”
Sarrasin is by the late German sire Monsun who has sired three Melbourne Cup winners – Fiorente, Protectionist and Almandin.
“He’s a fairly typical Monsun, not as dour as some of them, but probably more in your Fiorente mould in terms of athleticism and that,” Freedman said.
The Freedmans have had a number of well-performed imports and Lee said they were all different.
He said Sarrasin was an athletic horse who reminded him a little of Lucas Cranach, third in the 2011 Melbourne Cup when trained by Anthony Freedman.
Sarrasin trialled at Cranbourne on November 7 and has had another trial at Balnarring since.
“I haven’t got many expectations other than I think he’ll run well,” Freedman said.
