Winter form doesn’t always translate to carnival success, but Michael Freedman is keen to test the waters with impressive debutant Castillo King in the Rosebud.
The Farnan colt will tackle Saturday’s Listed sprint at Rosehill after making a statement at his only start with a 3-1/4 length win over Silver Slipper runner-up Eviction Notice at Warwick Farm in July.
Freedman admits it’s difficult to assess how Castillo King will measure up against the likes of Canonbury Stakes winner Hidrix and dual Group placegetter Central Europe in the Rosebud (1100m), but says the three-year-old deserves the chance to prove himself.
“That’s the plan, the Rosebud, and we’ll see where we get to from there,” Freedman said.
“It’s always difficult to line up that mid-winter form getting into the spring. But he ran good sectionals, and I think he’s a nice horse.
“It is a track and distance that plays very leaderish sometimes, which may not suit him. But he seems to be heading in the right direction, anyway.”
A field of 16 and three emergencies has been paid up for the Golden Rose (1400m) lead-in, Castillo King drawing barrier 14 with Tommy Berry to ride.
Zac Lloyd has been secured to partner stablemate Outspan from gate 16 in the same race, although the Godolphin colt is also an acceptor for the Vain Stakes (1100m) at Cauflield where he has drawn three.
Freedman has been satisfied with Outspan’s build up, and the horse did show ability at his initial campaign with a win at Rosehill in January and a Group 3 placing.
“He ran second in the Pago Pago (Stakes) and I think he’s come back in good order,” Freedman said.
The impending return of the new-season three-year-olds may go some way towards easing the blow Freedman’s team received last week when ATC Australian Oaks runner-up Profoundly was retired after injuring her leg at trackwork.
“She did a suspensory,” Freedman said.
“We had a good look at her, and you could rehab her for twelve months and take your chances, but most of the owners were of the view it was better to retire to stud.
“It’s a shame to lose her.”
Profoundly raced 11 times for three wins, highlighted by her Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) victory at Randwick in April, finishing her career with just shy of $500,000 in prizemoney.