The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable was disappointed to miss the Golden Slipper with Tentyris but another feature Group 1 is on the colt’s agenda following his win at Caulfield.
Tentyris was one of the leading fancies for the Golden Slipper in March before being ruled out with a stress fracture to a hind leg and his campaign as a spring three-year-old has been aimed at the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week.
A lot of hard work has gone into getting Tentyris fit to campaign in the Coolmore Stud Stakes as the colt returned overweight and underdone when beaten first-up in the Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 13.
Part of the colt’s fitness regime came in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday which the colt won in stunning fashion.
Ridden cold before unleashing a powerful finish under Mark Zahra, Tentyris, the $2.25 favourite, overhauled the leader Raging Force ($4.40) to score by a long neck with former Queensland filly Sheeza Alibi ($16) a further 1-½ lengths away third.
“It was pretty gutting to miss the Slipper as a two-year-old, as we felt like he was the best chance we had in that race,” Sam Freedman said.
“So hopefully, it’s a blessing in disguise. Sometimes those horses can do with a bit more time.
“We’re keen to be the fresh horse on the scene for the Coolmore and it looks like he’ll be that.”
Freedman said it had been a long steady build up to Tentyris’ return after the colt returned to their Mornington stable 30kg heavier than when he was last in Victoria.
“It’s been a project for everyone to get the weight off him and get him here today,” Freedman said.
“He still has improvement in him. He looks like he might have blown up a little bit over the back, so we’re excited for two weeks.”
Freedman said he and Zahra had undertaken numerous discussions on the best way Tentyris should be ridden.
He said a return to Flemington would not be a problem for the colt after his Danehill first-up placing and a trial down the straight in the lead-up to that race.
Freedman said Tentyris was at his best when coiled up and allowed to unleash a powerful finish as he did on Saturday.
“We’ll keep him at home, probably take him to Mornington for a piece of work,” Freedman said.
“You know the MRC’s been really accommodating with this horse to get him in here in great shape.
“The feedback has been (riding him), get him in amongst them, get some action.
“It’s a bit of a game for him when he’s just idling out in front, so when they’re all around him, he really pins his ears back and has a crack, an attribute that he’s shown throughout his career.”
