Trial worth Pocketing before more earnest tasks

Despite a midfield finish in the ATC Australian Derby, Pocketing’s effort wrapped up an impressive campaign, and he’s now back for another tilt as he steps out in a trial at Rosehill on Tuesday.

The promising galloper is by Grunt, a dual Group 1 winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes and Australian Guineas, and will resume in a 900m heat as Richard and Will Freedman plot his spring return.

“He’s coming along nicely,” said Will Freedman. “Now that he’s a Group 2 winner, the challenge will be finding the right handicaps where he carries less weight.”

Pocketing secured the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes in April before backing up in the Derby just days later, earning a Racing and Sports rating of 108 in both performances.

Freedman acknowledged the long-range speculation surrounding the Epsom Handicap, but is taking a cautious approach.

“You see him quoted at $51 for the Epsom, and it would be nice, but we have to be realistic,” he said. “Some three-year-olds from the autumn don’t quite progress in the spring. If he doesn’t hit the same levels, we’ll keep things light and look to the autumn.”

The trial also features Perfumist, trained by Bjorn Baker, who returns after notching up four straight wins last preparation.

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