Freedman Stable's Promising Pair Primed for Randwick Return

Following a spell that saw her miss the autumn three-year-old season, Magenta Skies is set to make up for lost time, preparing for her first race day appearance in ten months.

The Frankel filly showed enough promise in her initial two starts to earn a start in last year's Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), finishing seventh to stablemate Apocalyptic, also trained by Michael Freedman.

Soon after her last start, she underwent surgery for bone chips in a knee, with the recovery period forcing her absence from the autumn racing calendar.

Magenta Skies is accepted for Saturday's Precise Air Handicap (1400m) at Randwick, with a benchmark race at Kembla Grange also an option. Freedman has been pleased with how she has progressed during her preparations at home.

"Unfortunately, after she ran in the Flight Stakes last year she pulled up with a knee that required surgery," Freedman commented.

"She had that and had a nice break. She's had a steady, long build up that has been going well thus far."

"I'm looking forward to getting her back to the races on Saturday. Whether that's at Randwick or Kembla, we'll have to look at both options."

"Hopefully we can have an uninterrupted 'prep' with her, and get her to her full potential."

Godolphin mare Mareth is resuming in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m) at Randwick and will carry 56.5kg, aided by the three-kilo claim of apprentice William Stanley.

She finished her autumn campaign with a narrow second to Beskar in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m), and Freedman has nominated next month's Group 3 Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong as her immediate goal.

"We thought we'd kick her off on Saturday and look at a race like the Mona Lisa at Wyong in a couple of weeks' time," he explained.

"The 1350 around there, I thought would really suit."

"The three kilos (off on Saturday) will certainly be advantageous to her to drop in the weights a bit. She's a very genuine sort of mare so it looks like a nice option for her."

Mareth has completed just one trial leading up to her return, but Freedman stated that this would not be a concern.

"She's not an overly big, robust sort of mare so looking at her, I didn't feel a second trial was going to be of any real benefit," he said.

"I'm happy for her to go to the races off the back of one."

Consider checking out Australian betting sites for the best odds on the Precise Air Handicap.