Wide draws a blow for Moravia and Ducasse
Michael Freedman is hoping to learn more about two of his emerging colts when lightly raced pair Moravia and Ducasse contest feature three-year-old races at Rosehill.
However, his duo will now be heavily reliant on luck after coming up with difficult draws in their respective assignments.
Lining up for just his third start, Moravia has gate 11 of 12 in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m), while Ducasse has drawn the extreme outside in the capacity field of 18 plus one emergency for the Group 2 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
While the gates make their tasks harder, both have put the writing on the wall at their previous starts, Moravia making a particularly rapid rise from a maiden win at Newcastle on debut to beat all but Libertad in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m).
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase, Moravia will need to raise the bar again in Saturday’s Golden Rose lead-up where he will face a rematch with Libertad while also taking on the likes of Golden Slipper placegetters Cylinder and Don Corleone, and dual Group 1 winner Militarize.
“Moravia’s was a good effort coming off a maiden at Newcastle,” Freedman said of the horse’s San Domenico performance.
“It was a big step up. It will be exciting if he can take the next step and he seems to be in good order.”
Ducasse is in his second preparation and had a seasoning trip to Brisbane at two where he turned in a solid effort to finish midfield in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben in May.
He was luckless when resuming in the Up And Coming Stakes (1300m), enduring a chequered passage in the straight before hitting the line stylishly for a late-closing fourth behind Tom Kitten.
“Ducasse was probably pretty stiff. He never got much galloping room at any stage and he seems to have come through the run well,” Freedman said.
“Hopefully we can get a bit more luck for both.
“They’re different types of horses. Ducasse gives me the impression he’ll enjoy eventually getting over a mile, whereas I think Moravia can stretch to 14, but he’s essentially a six or seven-furlong type of horse.”
The Run To The Rose is a key lead-up to the Golden Rose (1400m) with six horses having completed the double, most recently Bivouac in 2019.
More Racing News
Extragalactic's Flemington mission in McEwen Stakes
While many in the racing world will lament the closure of the old Moonee Valley track, trainer Trent Edmonds isn't lamenting the timing of its renovation.This Saturday marks the first Cox Plate meeting to be held away from 'The Valley', and Edmonds is set to be at Flemington with Extragalactic,...
Blind Raise's faith rewarded with Cox Plate start
Trent Busuttin is aware that if the primary goal was to secure a Group 1 victory, the more prudent strategy would be to send Blind Raise to Sydney for this Saturday's Spring Champion Stakes.Nevertheless, he also recognises that the type of opportunity that has arisen this year is not a...
Caulfield Cup fall victim Half Yours is back home and doing well
Good news has emerged regarding the riders involved in the Caulfield Cup, with the Victorian Jockeys Association reporting both have been discharged from hospital.Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were transported to the Alfred Hospital after a dramatic fall during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.The sequence of events saw Half Yours,...
Mr Brightside's Flemington Mile participation uncertain
The Lindsay Park training outfit, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will hold off on confirming Mr Brightside's start at Flemington until the acceptance stage.Mr Brightside is expected to be nominated for the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile (1600m) this Saturday, though Ben Hayes indicated he is only...
Warwoven's Cox Plate Prospects to be Decided by King's Ride
Melbourne's racing scene is abuzz as Sydney jockey Rachel King prepares to reunite with Warwoven for a crucial track gallop. This workout is designed to give the final go-ahead for the Bjorn Baker-trained colt's potential entry into the esteemed Cox Plate at Flemington.King, who celebrated a Caulfield Guineas victory aboard...
Infancy's The Invitation prospects while in foal
Dual stakes winner Infancy is eagerly awaiting a potential start in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick, a race that could significantly boost her career accolades before she transitions to her role as a broodmare.The six-year-old mare has recently been served by the promising young sire Anamoe. Her trainer,...
Tempted claims The Everest crown in thrilling renewal
The tenth running of The Everest delivered a familiar outcome at the top but with a new champion crowned, as Tempted outdueled Ka Ying Rising before a record-breaking crowd of 52,110.For trainer Ciaron Maher, this victory represents his second success in The Everest, building on Bella Nipotina's triumph in 2024....
Autumn Glow's flawless Sydney spring culminates in King Charles triumph
Autumn Glow smoothly assumed the lead in the prestigious Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) as the field turned for home, just as Ceolwulf began to mount a challenge.Trainer Chris Waller reportedly turned to jockey Darren Beadman and inquired, "Are we in trouble?" Beadman's swift reply was,...
Gavin Bedggood celebrates biggest win as Kingswood triumphs in Caulfield Cup
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has achieved his career-defining success with Kingswood winning the Caulfield Cup.The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday was claimed by the UK-bred import Kingswood, marking Bedggood's most significant achievement, eclipsing his previous best in the 2024 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.Bedggood, who was a proficient jumps...
Apocalyptic finds her best form in the Silver Eagle
While it was a supporting event on The Everest undercard, Apocalyptic's triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday was a considerable achievement for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.The mare, a Group 1 victor of last year's Flight Stakes, had been underperforming in the autumn and her initial...