3 minute read

German imports Schabau and Django Freeman make returns at Flemington.

Two German imports will race as geldings in their racing returns at Flemington having undergone two rounds of surgery since they last raced. 

Besides a gelding operation, Schabau runs for the first time since October having had surgery on a bone chip in a fetlock while his Robert Hickmott-trained stablemate Django Freeman has also been gelded and had knee surgery since last his run, also that month. 

Hickmott said people will see a quieter Schabau when he contests the ATA Celebrates Women Trainers Handicap (2000m) on Saturday. 

"His temperament has been very much changed at home," Hickmott said. 

Hickmott is planning a Melbourne Cup campaign with Schabau and is following a similar program to Almandin with whom he won the 2015 Cup with. 

Almandin raced through winter before confirming his Cup place by winning the Bart Cummings. 

"Lloyd (Williams) set him a task in the year he won the Cup in 2015," Hickmott said. 

"He started racing him in the winter months and we had him peaking for the Bart Cummings and then he had a month between runs which was really the masterpiece of the campaign. 

"Hopefully with this horse we can set him on a similar path. 

"He's carrying a little bit of excess weight at the moment which is not ideal, but through the winter months, you do have to weigh up which tracks you gallop on. 

"But we have been very lucky at Caulfield to have the course proper on occasions." 

Django Freeman makes his return in the Sir Eugene Gorman Handicap (1600m) with Hickmott aiming him towards the Caulfield Cup. 

"He had clean-up surgery on a knee and at this stage there is no spurring occurring," Hickmott said. 

"The horse is free in his action and he was gelded as well as we wanted to drop a bit of weight from the front end."