San Giovanni ready to go in the 2025 Spring Champion Stakes

San Giovanni will get his chance to shine over a longer trip on Saturday when he tackles the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, and trainer Michael Freedman couldn’t be happier with the way his emerging stayer is trending.

After beginning his career with back-to-back wins at Newcastle and Kembla Grange in July, San Giovanni has quickly made his way through the grades to contest top-level company. His past two starts, both over 1800 metres, have yielded encouraging third-place finishes — including a strong showing in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes behind Shangri La Boy and The Pearls.

“He ran great in the Gloaming,” Freedman said. “He hit the line strongly and looked like he wanted every bit of 2000 metres. He’s done everything right since and I think he’ll be even better stepping up in trip.”

Freedman said the Spring Champion will be San Giovanni’s fourth and likely final start this campaign, with the trainer already looking toward an autumn preparation aimed at middle-distance features.

“He’s still a very young horse who has done a lot in a short time,” Freedman said. “If he runs well on Saturday, we’ll probably give him a break and come back in the autumn when he’s had more time to mature. He’s definitely shaping as a stayer of the future.”

Although several recent Spring Champion winners have gone on to the Victoria Derby at Flemington the following week, Freedman ruled out taking that path with San Giovanni.

“I’m not a big fan of the 2500 metres at this stage of their careers,” he said. “The Derby is a great race, but I’d rather look after him now so he’s around for the long term.”

San Giovanni has drawn perfectly in barrier five for the 2000-metre feature and will again be ridden by Andrew Adkins, who has partnered him throughout this preparation. Freedman said the horse continues to please him in his work at home and is thriving heading into the race.

“He’s settled into his work beautifully and is in really good order,” Freedman said. “He’s still learning, but he’s a genuine horse and I think he’ll give a great account of himself. The 2000 metres will tell us a lot about his future, but I’ve got no doubt he’ll see it out strongly.”

With solid form behind some of the best three-year-olds in Sydney, San Giovanni looms as one of the more intriguing runners in what promises to be a deep edition of the Spring Champion Stakes.