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A return to the successful formula that saw Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside take out the world’s richest two-year-old race, and three of his four starts in the autumn, is on the cards at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Co-trainer Michael Freedman expects the colt to race a lot closer to the speed in the Group 2 $200,000 XXXX Run To The Rose (1200m) than he did when beaten out of a place at the same track first-up.
There's no doubt the pressure is on Stay Inside to produce his best and Freedman seems content that he can do that.
"We had to take a bit of a conservative approach first-up in a small field from a wide gate, to avoid being trapped wide,'' Freedman said.
"Now he has had the run under his belt we'll be endeavouring to be a bit more positive on him.
"I'm happy with how he has done since the race and he goes into Saturday in as good condition as he could be in."
On face value Freedman was disappointed with Stay Inside's first-up run but on closer inspection of the sectionals he concluded it was below his usual standard but an acceptable run that he must put behind him quickly.
Punter's Intelligence sectional data from the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m), where Stay Inside finished fifth of six, shows the colt ran 33.70 for his last 600m, the second fastest of the race, and Freedman said the damage had been done by then.
"I think he probably got a touch tired late but I think that was more to do from the work he needed to do from the 600m under the circumstances of the way the race was run,'' he said.
"They made it a real dash home and when you're sitting six or eight lengths off the leaders you've got to do a fair bit of work to pick them up.
"The work he needed do to get to that point and then run 21.94 from the 600m-200m first-up for five months with 58.5kg on your back, it can have an affect.
"But that said you'd probably would have liked to see him finish a bit closer."
Kerrin McEvoy replaces the suspended Tommy Berry on Saturday.
Stay Inside was a drifter in betting in the San Domenico, eventually starting $3.30 second favourite. He was $7.50 with TAB in the Run To The Rose on Thursday behind Anamoe, the horse that chased him home in the Slipper, at $2.40.
The spring plans for Stay Inside likely hinge on how he performs second up as he holds the third line of betting in the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose at $8 and is a $15 chance in the TAB Everest market.
Freedman said plenty will be learned about the future come about 4pm on Saturday.
"I'm being pretty philosophical about things,'' Freedman said.
"We get our chance to go back there on Saturday with that run under our belt, on a dry surface, to come away from Saturday knowing where we are heading. Whichever pathway that is."
The barrier gods didn't help Group 1 winner Forbidden Love's cause in the Group 2 $200,000 Coolmore Sheraco Stakes (1200m) but Freedman couldn't have been more enthusiastic about her first-up effort.
She charged home from well back in the Toy Show, over the unsuitable 1100m, to be beaten under two lengths in fourth place by Fituese and clocked 32.89 for her last 600m.
"She seems to have come back in super form,'' Freedman said.
"I thought she could run well first-up because her trials leading in were terrific. We still had to ride her conservatively from an awkward gate and unfortunately that's going to have to be the case again.
"Hopefully she can find a nice spot and finish off."
The Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) in two weeks is the next stop for Forbidden Love whose major aims this spring are the $2m The Invitation (1400m) on October 23 and the $7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m) a week later.
Tiger Of Malay faces a different task to his first-up win in the Up & Coming Stakes this Saturday and Freedman said there are pluses and minuses to consider.
The colt carried 61kg to his first-up win, beating subsequent winner Coastwatch, and drops to 57.5kg in the Listed $150,000 Drinkwise Dulcify Stakes (1500m) where he goes on trial for a Golden Rose berth.
But Freedman said different tactics are likely to be needed as he drew 11 of 13 in the Dulcify as opposed to getting a dream run from barrier one first-up.
"I'm sure we'll have a chat (with James McDonald) between now and Saturday to work out the best way to ride him,'' he said.
"He's probably going to have to be a bit conservative early to make sure the horse gets a spot with some cover and not too hard a run.
"Obviously he's a lot better off at the weights and I'd love to see him run well to put his hand up for a Golden Rose."
