Ninja ready to contend in Missile Stakes

Michael Freedman has indicated that while he hasn't entirely ruled out another attempt at a mile for Ninja in the future, the gelding's immediate campaign will focus on shorter distances as connections consider a potential Everest campaign.

The four-year-old is set to make his return in a strong edition of the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday, his first run since competing in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) where he finished in the midfield.

Freedman suggested that Ninja's prior unplaced performance was likely due to the horse reaching the culmination of his preparation and the extended journey. Consequently, the trainer plans to keep the horse at shorter trip for now.

"I'm not ruling out one day trying him back over the mile, but his form to this point suggests he's very effective at 1200 to 1400, so we might be smarter keeping him in and around those distances for the time being," Freedman explained.

"Like most trainers and owners with sprinting type horses, you'd love to see if he could measure up and get himself a spot in an Everest later in the spring. But there's a hell of a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then.

"But that's a race that would be in the back of my mind for him if he was going well enough. A Golden Eagle would be worth a look to given it's restricted to four-year-olds."

After securing the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) in February, Ninja put in a notable performance with a stylish win in a Randwick trial last month.

Freedman is pleased with Ninja's physical and mental maturation since the autumn period. The Missile Stakes is anticipated to be a solid benchmark for his abilities against notable rivals such as Group 1 performers Angel Capital and Napoleonic.

"He's just more mature and a stronger four-year-old now," Freedman commented.

"As a younger horse, he was somewhat mentally fragile. But he's been gelded as a young horse and that trip away (to Queensland in the summer), like is does with a lot of horses, did him the world of good. He came back a lot more seasoned.

"His autumn 'prep' stopped reasonably early, and that enabled him to have a long spell and a long build-up. So while he's up and about relatively early in the spring, he hasn't sacrificed any time off to do that.

"Hopefully we get him off to the races on Saturday and see where we get to later in the spring."

A field of eight has been declared for Sydney's first stakes race of the 2026-27 season, featuring the highly regarded Angel Capital, a triple Group 1 placegetter who finished sixth in last year's Everest (1200m) behind Ka Ying Rising.

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