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By Ray Hickson

Six weeks is a long time in the context of sizing up Golden Slipper contenders so trainer Michael Freedman is looking to Pallaton to serve a reminder of his credentials at Randwick on Saturday.

Since Pallaton made his impressive debut just prior to Christmas the two-year-old picture has revolved around another son of Wootton Basset in Wodeton who stepped out a month later and consumed Slipper talk.

Trainer Michael Freedman

Freedman said he expects Pallaton to be the testing material in the Coolmore Pierro Plate (1100m) if he is Slipper material.

“You’d want to see him run a good race,’’ he said.

“He’s drawn to get a nice run just behind the speed, a similar set up to when he won first-up.

“There’s probably a bit more depth to this race so it’ll be more of a testing race for him.

“Barring bad luck, if you’re going to be a genuine contender in five weeks time you want him to be making his presence felt in this race.”

Pallaton, $2.40 with TAB on Friday and $11 in the Slipper, is following the path Freedman paved with Stay Inside back in 2021 starting with the Pierro Plate, which Stay Inside won, then heading into the Todman Stakes on March 8.

Freedman sent the colt for a short break straight after his first-up win and he reappeared with a closing third behind North England in a 900m trial at Rosehill almost two weeks ago.

That trial also served as a familiarity exercise with the Slipper venue.

“He just went out and more or less had a bit of a mental freshen up. They don’t lose a great deal of fitness in that short space of time,’’ Freedman said.

“I was happy to give him a look around Rosehill, a trip away from home, and I think it has brought him on well.

“He put in a nice piece of work on Tuesday and he sets up well for Saturday.

“He was having a bit of a stargaze in the trial which he can do, particularly at a new venue like that, which was why I was pleased to have the opportunity to give him a look there.”

The Randwick trainer’s other major Slipper contender Apocalyptic is set to trial on Tuesday before resuming in either the Sweet Embrace or Reisling Stakes.

Group 1 winner Manaal is back in action in the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) having only raced three times in the spring.

It was by design, Freedman said, given the workload she had at two and while he doesn’t love the barrier draw he can only expect the filly to put in as she usually does.

She won the Silver Shadow Stakes second-up in the spring and last appeared in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) where she led and finished third behind Autumn Glow.

“She had a long spell at the back end of the spring because she had a busy autumn as a two-year-old,’’ he said.

“I wanted to give her the opportunity to have a nice break. I’ve been very happy with both her trials, she galloped well on Tuesday.

“The draw isn’t ideal, I’m not too sure where we get to from there. She’s a model of consistency and if she can get a bit of luck and find a half decent run she will run well.”

Import Givemethebeatboys is a curious addition to the Group 2 $300,000 Asahi Super Dry Expressway Stakes (1200m) and Freedman concedes he’s not sure what to expect.

The four-year-old was sent to Australia by his owners to chase the attractive prizemoney on offer and he brings with him a couple of Group 3 wins and a Group 1 placing from Ireland.

“He’s had two nice trials, he’s a very laid back horse,’’ he said.

“For a horse that has all his form over 1000m and 1200m he comes across to me like he could stretch to 1400m or a mile.

“I’m using Saturday as a look and see how he lines up because it’s difficult to line up European sprint form against ours.”

Pallaton runs third in a Rosehill trial on February 3

Michael Freedman on Bunker Hut (Race 9): “He’s been so consistent, he hadn’t won for a while but he doesn’t run too many bad races either. It was good to see him get up there the other day. He jumps from a nice barrier, I could see him parking just behind the speed somewhere and he’ll be thereabouts again.”

On Yiska (Race 9): “He’s won three of his last four and he’s relaxing a lot better in his races. I think that has been the key to giving himself the chance to finish off. He’s had a bump up to a higher rating race and I think the 1300m sets up well for him.”

On Panic (Race 10): “He didn’t get much room in the straight and when he did get out he lost all that momentum. He was first-up for quite a while so I thought it was a good solid run. I think he’s one horse that’s not totally disadvantaged by the wide draw, he can roll forward and find his spot somewhere up on speed.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting