Racing
Trial worth Pocketing before more earnest tasks
Spring prospects are beginning to step out in Sydney trials.
A quick glance at his form and one might not think too much about Pocketing's eighth placing in the ATC Australian Derby in April, but in a campaign that stretched across nearly five months, there is more than meets the eye as the Richard and Will Freedman galloper heads to the trials on Tuesday.
The rising four-year-old son of Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Grunt will step out in a 900-metre trial at Rosehill to kick off a preparation where his trainers are open minded to his spring pathway.
"He is going well," Will Freedman said.
"He is going to find it harder because he is now a Group Two winner. He looks very well, he's working well but he is going to need to find those handicaps where he gets in light.
Pocketing pulled out all stops to win the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) to beat home the likes of Firm Agreement and King Of Thunder on the rain affected adjourned Tancred Stakes Day meeting at Rosehill on April 1.
Four days later he lined up in the Group 1 Derby (2400m) and notched a Racing and Sports rating of 108 – the same mark as his win earlier that week.
"I saw he was in the market for the Epsom," Freedman added with reference to the $51 quote in the mile feature.
"That would be a great dream but I am slightly reserved that sometimes those three-year-old autumn horses find the spring very difficult.
"It might be a light prep for him and we probably won't tax him too much. If he shows any signs of not being where he was then it will be a light prep and put him away for the autumn.
"It was such an unbelievable prep last time and we did give him a very hard summer/autumn campaign.
"If he shows any signs of not being right there he won't do too much this prep."
Trial 9 also features the Bjorn Baker-trained Perfumist who strung together four wins in succession last preparation.
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