Point Barrow set for Northwood Plume Stakes as Champions Sprint looms

The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable has opted for a slight drop in class for Point Barrow this weekend, though this tactical adjustment does not signal a departure from their ambitious plans for the high-performing mare.

The four-year-old is continuing her campaign towards a potential start in the prestigious $3 million Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 7, with her immediate target being the $240,000 Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Initially, the father-son training partnership had earmarked the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) on the same race day for their charge. However, a change of heart led them to keep the recent Group 3 How Now Stakes winner at the 1200m distance and competing against her own sex.

"She was always going to the Schillaci and then we just threw a nom in for the mares' race and it's probably come in a little bit more suitable," Sam Freedman explained.

"It was obviously good to get her back in the game (last start), because the Moir was a bit of a non-event.

"She's right back on track. We want to get her to the Sprint on the last day, so if she's going to be a factor in that she'll want to be winning on Saturday."

The mare, by Blue Point, extended her Caulfield record to an impressive three wins from five starts when she took out the How Now Stakes. This victory followed an eleventh-place finish in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on her seasonal reappearance, where she settled at the rear of the field.

Point Barrow is assigned the second-widest draw in the 14-horse set-weights-and-penalties event and will carry 58kg. Nevertheless, Freedman highlighted that optimal track conditions, which are anticipated, will be key to unlocking her best performance in the lead-up to the race day.

At the time of acceptance, the Caulfield track surface was rated a Soft 6.

"She needs Good ground, she doesn't handle Soft or Heavy," Freedman advised.

"She needs a little bit to go right, but she can offset a bit of bias because she's always going to finish off really strong, and her record at Caulfield's very good.

"I'm confident she's flying along and should hold her form now for the rest of the spring."

Mark Zahra, who was aboard Point Barrow for her last-start triumph, is set to retain the ride for the Northwood Plume Stakes.

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