Lyre’s on the double

ANTHONY Freedman is in a good position to know whether Lyre can win today’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper.

Freedman was his brother Lee’s right-hand man for his four straight Slipper wins from 1993 to ’96.

Bint Marscay started the sequence, followed by Danzero, Flying Spur and Merlene.

Freedman equates Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre to Merlene.

“I think she’s a bit like Merlene in the sense she’s not a natural two-year-old,” he said. “She’s doing it on her natural ability and she’ll train on to three and race at a high level.”

Freedman is confident Lyre will acquit herself well in the attempt to become the sixth horse to secure the DiamondSlipper double.

He said her gallops and trial since she had been in Sydney suggested she was in similar form as before the Diamond and would handle the rainaffected Rosehill track.

“I don’t know whether she has improved, but she’s held her fitness,’’ Freedman said.

“I’ve been encouraged by her trial and gallops, which to me has proved she can handle soft ground.

“It’s an even crop of two- year-olds. How they handle the ground will play a big part.”

Freedman said Lyre, drawn in barrier 13, would drift back at first.

“I’m happy enough with her draw,’’ he said. “From there we’ll ride a patient race, similar to how she was ridden in the Blue Diamond.”

In the past two seasons, Freedman has an amazing Group 1 record, having had 27 starters for eight wins.