Written by Paul Vettise
Anthony Freedman is already plotting a repeat of last season’s G1 Blue Diamond S., which the Flemington trainer was victorious in with the Godolphin representative Lyre (Lonhro).
Freedman took the covers off another Godolphin-bred and raced youngster at Sandown where Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}) justified his favouritism in Saturday’s Listed Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper S. to fuel connections’ hopes for the colt next February.
“He was going to the paddock regardless of the result. He gave a few signs in the yard that he might be ready for a little break, so we’ll give him a short let-up and then look to go back to back in the Blue Diamond,” said the trainer’s son and right-hand man Sam Freedman.
“It’s a big thanks to Godolphin for sending us three horses and we’ve also got a filly by Street Boss, who is going to measure up as well.
“They’ve good minds and are very switched on horses and know their job from day one. As soon as this one walked in the stable he knew what it was all about and all the staff have done a good job with him.”
Wide gate no issue
Hanseatic had a wide gate to contend with and, with the future in mind, wasn’t bustled early although he did have the leaders within his sights at the top of the straight.
Rider Luke Currie got to work on the colt and he responded impressively to power home down the middle of the track to beat Dubai Star (Pride Of Dubai) and River Night (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Fourth in was Away Game (Snitzel), who led into the straight and was then wayward under pressure.
Luke Currie
“It was about getting him to relax and then quicken,” Freedman said. “Quite often in 1000 metre races they need to be ridden forward, but we’ve got high hopes for this horse to measure up in the better 1200 metre races.
“You can do all the home work and with a horse you have a nice opinion of it’s good to see them do it at the races.
“We hadn’t put much pressure on him, but he’s given all of our riders a nice feel. We gave him a quiet trial on Monday and he’d done well since. We don’t usually push our 2-year-olds too much, but he’s one that has put his hand up.”
“We don’t usually push our 2-year-olds too much, but he’s one that has put his hand up.” – Sam Freedman
Hanseatic was ridden at the Cranbourne trials, where he finished runner-up, by Luke Currie and he came away confident in the colt’s ability to perform first-up.
“He’s a nice horse and Sam said to me beforehand that he hadn’t been let off the bit and was still a bit unknown,” he said.
“He gave me a great feel at the trials and he’s franked that here. He’s a lovely style of horse and did everything right in the race.”
Hanseatic is bred to be good as he’s a son of Itameri (Exceed And Excel), who is from the family of the unbeaten champion sprinter Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and the Group winning stallions Magnus and Wilander.
