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Dual Group 1 winner set to tackle Group 2

Dual Group 1 winner Homesman (War Front) will line up in the AD Hollindale Stakes (Gr 2, 1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday and while the race is officially Group 2 status co-trainer Sam Freedman believes the field they have assembled is Group 1 standard. 

Homesman will be having his first start since his win in the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) on March 6 and he will clash with seven individual Group 1 winners, including multiple Group 1-winning New Zealand mare Melody Belle (Commands). 

"A couple of weeks ago we were working out what was going to run and we said, 'It's basically a Group 1'," said Sam Freedman. 

"He's an amazing horse. He's basically been the benchmark for Group 1s at a mile to 2000m for a long time, so any time he's in the race you know it's a very competitive Group 1. 

"We think he is best spacing his runs and he's generally very good first and second-up and then he can regress, so we thought the gap between runs will suit and then he will go into the Doomben Cup cherry ripe. 

Homesman drew 16 of 17 but with all three emergencies drawn to his inside, he'll jump from barrier 13 or 14 with only Melody Belle on his outside.

"We've been dealt no favours with the barriers, so we'll have to work it out, but he sat wide throughout in the Australian Cup, so we'll probably end up adopting a similar tactic on Saturday," Freedman said.