Inkaruna will be given the chance to round out the Spring Carnival with a big payday for connections when she steps out at Caulfield this Saturday.
The Sam and Anthony Freedman-trained filly, who was runner-up to classy stablemate Point Barrow in last Thursday’s Group 3 Red Roses Stakes at Flemington, will contest the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
It will be the first running of the 1200-metre race with a $1 million purse on the new CF Orr Stakes Raceday and Sam Freedman said it was a great opportunity for the daughter of I Am Invincible.
“We kept it in the back of our mind for her and she’s pulled up well,” Freedman said.
“She’s had a pretty light preparation so far, so I think we’ll front up and see how she does.”
The Red Roses Stakes was the third run for the campaign, following a seventh placing in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) and third in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m).
Winner of the latter event was My Gladiola, who headlines the 24 entries for the Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
The Freedmans have resisted the temptation to go one more run with Point Barrow, who is already in the spelling paddock.
Inkaruna’s stablemate Caffettiera is also among the entries but is well down the ballot order.
Freedman concedes Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up My Gladiola will be hard to beat, but believes Inkaruna has a formline that will ensure she is competitive.
“You can draw a line in the form with some of those nicer fillies that fronted up on Thursday,” he said.
“She began a bit better with the blinkers on on Oaks Day, so if she’s able to settle a bit closer that’s going to hold her in good stead as well.”
The Freedman stable will not be represented in the $1 million Group 1 Orr Stakes, but could have Katsumi Orochi in the $400,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).
The Maurice colt finished 11th in the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day and Freedman suggested he would be suited by the step up to 1600m.
“He’s probably just looking for a bit further, so he’ll probably run, but he’s got to step up, obviously,” Freedman said.
Katsumi Orochi is one of 17 nominations for the Sandown Guineas, while the Orr Stakes attracted 11 entries, headlined by Jimmysstar and Angel Capital.
