By Tony Megahey
It won’t be just another typical Bathurst TAB maiden at the popular western track on Saturday afternoon.
Lightly raced Helsonic will be a major focus for the fact she’s trained by media personality Richard Freedman and part-owned by high profile TV presenter Yvonne Sampson.
Yvonne’s passion for horses comes from growing up and riding on the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Aside from her interest in Helsonic, a four-year-old All Too Hard mare, Yvonne is in involved in another syndication with star media host Erin Molan, who is also a part-owner of promising Snippet Of Hope trained by Nick Olive and also in El Dorado Mine with Clare Cunningham. Both are keen racegoers.
While the public interest will see Helsonic, start favourite in an Oak Tree Retirement Village 1200m F&M Maiden, she also offers the best form credentials amidst a modest field.
Helsonic runs third in a Randwick trial on December 4
Last preparation she displayed ability in maidens with far more depth, being placed at Wyong showing speed, and also close up at Gosford.
On Saturday, Freedman has placed her perfectly for a break through. She’s primed resuming off three trials and in a small country field she is drawn in barrier three with 59kg for leading regional rider Mathew Cahill.
“She hasn’t been easy to train, she had an injury before she came to us and we’re just trying to win a race with her,” Freedman explained.
“But I think she’s shown enough at the trials.”
Helsonic is well forward off two recent trials at Rosehill Gardens, another at Hawkesbury, and she also trialled extensively last year before her debut. Significantly, Helsonic started $2.00 favourite in her Wyong third in August.
Freedman’s other runner is maiden stayer Triplicate also to be ridden by Cahill in a Rural Bin Service Class 1 and Maiden (2000m) where he is also ideally placed. He is back to country maiden grade from earlier maiden placings at Kembla and Wyong. His opposition is particularly modest.
“His form has been patchy, but his last run was okay and we’ve put the blinkers on,” Freedman said.
Bathurst will race on a soft 5 surface in fine weather and offer services for the corresponding city meetings.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's meeting at Bathurst