Tuesday gallop key for Place Du Carrousel on path to Melbourne Cup
A gear change together with an important track outing on Tuesday morning will help Anthony and Sam Freedman decide whether Place Du Carrousel will head to Flemington on Saturday for a redeeming tilt at another Spring Carnival feature, and keep a Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup path on course.
The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) was slated to be the high-priced mare’s next outing after a disappointing run in the Underwood Stakes over the same distance at Caulfield behind Buckaroo on September 21.
“She was plain last time,” Sam Freedman said of the now five-year-old French Group 1-winning mare who was bought for more than four million euro (AU$6.5 million) in 2023.
“She pulled up and her wind wasn’t great. I think she may have flipped her palate which can happen.
“It wasn’t something I’d heard when she’s come back from a race or a gallop before so it was unusual.
“I want to watch her work on Tuesday to make a call.”
Jockey Mark Zahra also commented to stewards on the day that Place Du Carrousel was agitated and made a noticeable breathing noise.
“We’ll put the crossover nose band on her, and we’re working on a few things over the next week,” Freedman added.
“She does need to work well on Tuesday to warrant lining up on Saturday. It will be a tough ask.
“We just want her to be in great order going into it.”
Place Du Carrousel is at $15 across all-in markets for the Turnbull Stakes where the Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina holds favouritism at $3 with betting companies.
Also from the Freedman Mornington yard, three-year-old filly Ameena will skip the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in favour of the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) two weeks later on Caulfield Cup Day.
Winner of the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) in August, Ameena was unable to emulate that result in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick eight days ago.
“It was a funny race,” Freedman said.
“They just didn’t go any (faster) tempo and we felt that she just keeps drawing badly.
“She is probably capable of holding a spot. We’ve seen her lead up in her early races.
“She’s back in Melbourne now and will head towards the Thousand Guineas Prelude.”
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...