Victorian trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman have a crucial trip up to Rosehill on Saturday as part of their plan for stakes racing in the autumn with classy mare Snapped.
Snapped has won three of her five starts, including producing a scintillating burst to win at Sandown on Boxing Day. She is raced by Pinecliff Racing, which also has The Everest winner Giga Kick.
Snapped sailed down the centre of the track to win at Sandown first-up on Boxing Day.Credit:Getty
“It is the right race at the right time for Snapped. She was impressive first up at Sandown and we would like to get into black-type racing in the autumn,” Sam Freedman said.
“We’re always looking at the calendar in Sydney. It is hard to travel, but when we come it’s because it’s the right race.
“There wasn’t a lot around in Melbourne for her. It’s not ideal to come here but the trip will do some good and she is in the right race.”
The Freedmans have a good strike rate when coming to Sydney, and punters didn’t miss out when Snapped opened $4.20, quickly backing her into a $3 favourite. The stable are sending apprentice Matthew Cartwright, who claims 1.5kg, to ride Midwest and Snapped at Rosehill.
Cartwright was in the saddle when Snapped came from back in the field to run 32.48 seconds for the final 600m at Sandown.
“It was a little bit of a surprise to be back there. We had plans going in to sit three wide with cover, not back last,” Cartwright told Racing NSW of the Sandown win.
“She bounded at the start and over the 1000m they went very quick, so I let her come back and she travelled nicely and proved too good for them.
“I’m assuming she ran the fastest sectionals of the meeting. She was pretty explosive, and I’m happy to keep the sit on her.”
Snapped will step up to 1100m in the Furphy Handicap at Rosehill and will hopefully be able to be closer from barrier one. The Freedmans are looking at the race as a stepping stone to longer trips and better races.
“We have always thought she is pretty good and think she sits in black-type company,” Freedman said. “We just have to get her rating up to make sure she gets into those races.
“We have been pretty patient with her, and now is her time.
“There is a 1300m race at Sandown in three weeks time [the group 3 Geoffery Bellmaine Stakes], so this race fits in well to get her there.”
Midwest has been placed twice this preparation over 1000m and might welcome an extension stepping out to 1100m in a benchmark 88. He won six races last preparation by leading but has not been able to find the front at his two runs.
“Midwest has been finding it a bit tougher at 1000m, so we thought the 1100m at Rosehill would suit and we could put him on the pace,” Freedman said. “He will get his chance in a strong race.”
Midwest has also drawn support from $8.50 to $6.50 in a race where the in-form Dehorned Unicorn and Spacewalk are fighting for favouritism around the $3 quote.
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