A Brisbane winter carnival raid is on the agenda for unbeaten two-year-old Aerodrome after he added his name to the Clarendon Stakes honour roll at Hawkesbury.
Prepared by Michael Freedman, who won this year’s Golden Slipper with filly Marhoona, Aerodrome ($2.10 betting fav) was having just his second start and ploughed through the heavy 8 conditions to account for Hereward ($41) by three-quarters of a length with Zebra Finch ($12) third.
Regan Bayliss has ridden the Ole Kirk youngster to both career wins and believes he has plenty of upside.
“He did a few things even better today than what he did the other day. He went a lot straighter and also showed that good will to win like he did first-up,” Bayliss said.
“He’s a lovely horse. He is just going to keep improving and I think the more runs we get into him and the more he steps up in trip, he is going to keep getting better and better.
“I’m not sure if the heavy ground was to his liking today being such a big striding horse, but he found a way to get the job done and he’s got a bright future.”
Freedman confirmed that Aerodrome would be prepared for a Queensland campaign with the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm ofn May 31 his first target ahead of a possible tilt at the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) in June.
“I will see how he pulls up but all going well we will look at Brisbane now for Aerodrome,” Freedman said.
“There’s a month to the Sires’ but he won’t need to race again, although if he needs it I might give him a barrier trial.”
In taking out Saturday’s Clarendon Stakes (1400m), Aerodrome joined the likes of subsequent Group 1 winners Zoustar (2013) and Zardozi (2023) on the race’s honour roll, the former capturing the Clarendon – BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes double 12 years ago.
