Anthony and Sam Freedman target Oakleigh Plate for sprint Group 1
Anthony and Sam Freedman's Tropicus along with Point Barrow have the Oakleigh Plate in their sights as they pursue an additional Group 1 conquest in sprint company.
Melbourne's autumn handicappers face their signature 1100m challenge at Caulfield this Saturday, with both entrants mirroring the first-up status of Tentyris, victor of the previous week's Black Caviar Lightning.
Last seen finishing sixth to Giga Kick in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) amid the final stages of Melbourne Cup week, Tropicus returns, as does Point Barrow following her Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1200m) success at Flemington on Oaks Day.
The sprinters have followed ideal paths toward Saturday according to Sam Freedman, who highlighted their distinct styles compared to stablemate Tentyris.
With a brace of jump-outs logged, Point Barrow's most recent came at Balnarring on January 28 under Jamie Melham, who will be aboard her for the debut under race conditions at Caulfield.
"She's had a great prep so far," Freedman said.
"She's ready to run a really good race and just needs a bit of luck.
"She's a bit like Tentyris, she sits back and has that powerful finish, and hopefully it's a similar result."
At Mornington last month, Tropicus took his debut trial before settling for second on January 22, narrowly ahead of Tentyris in the same session.
The 1100m Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield aligns well with Tropicus's preferences, as per Freedman.
Prior to that, two runs ago, he dictated terms until Giga Kick swooped in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at the same venue in October.
"He's got a great Caulfield record, and 1100 metres first-up suits him," Freedman said.
"Tactically for him, it's better as he'll be on the speed, but I just don't know what weight he'll get.
"I thought he might get 52 (kilos) in a normal year, but it looks like he might be up around the 56 mark which will mark it a hard weight for him to carry, but he'll take luck out of it by being up there."
Online bookmakers offer exciting options in the racing betting markets for the Oakleigh Plate.
The post Freedmans in search of another G1 sprint first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
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