Victorian a Sneaky chance from gate
GROUP 1-placed Victorian sprinter Mr Sneaky is trying for third time lucky in making his clockwise debut in the Listed Ascot Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
Mr Sneaky has done all his racing the Melbourne direction but not by design.
He was scratched at the barriers before the Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick in April last year and then got away and jumped a fence before the Scone Guineas the following month.
His clash with Weetwood winner Amanaat in the Ascot Handicap (1200m) shapes as a real highlight this weekend.
Sam Freedman, who is representing his father Anthony in Queensland this winter, said the reverse direction should not be an issue as he’s worked this way on many occasions.
His bigger concern where Mr Sneaky gets from the outside barrier.
“If he gets the right run, I’m sure he will produce a big finish,” Freedman said.
“If he was fitter we could is to roll forward, but he’s just a bit underdone, so that makes it a bit tricky from the gate.”
Mr Sneaky has proved up to Group 1 standard this season, placing second to Santa Ana Lane in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in October.
“What we have found with him is that he has a sharp 200m sprint, where he can find two lengths on weight for age class horses, but he can’t sustain it for 400m,” Freedman said.
“Hopefully in the big races here he can get smothered up with cover and be saved for one big run at them.”
The Freedman stable also has Exocet and Bedford in the Listed Tails Stakes at Doomben, while Japanese import A Shin Rook will make his Australian debut in the Benchmark 80.
“Bedford is probably our best chance (at Doomben) on Saturday. He keeps residual fitness and the gate is the only thing against him,” Freedman said. “Exocet hasn’t raced for a while, but she’s fit and well and had a good trial at Cranbourne. A Shin Rook is still a bit raw at the moment and it’s just a bit hard to line him up with the locals.”
Freedman-trained Group 1 winner Shoals will trial on Monday and if she comes through that well will aim at the Sangster Stakes in Adelaide on May 5.