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By Ray Hickson

With only four runs under his belt there’s every reason for co-trainer Michael Freedman to believe the best is still to come from Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside.

Trainer Michael Freedman

As the star colt returns in the Group 3 $160,000 XXXX San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday there’ll be plenty of attention on whether he can beat the perceived ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ and be the first Slipper winner to post a first-up victory since She Will Reign in 2017.

Freedman, who co-trains with brother Richard, said Stay Inside enjoyed a nice break in Queensland after his Slipper win, has trialled and worked to his liking and has strengthened up.

“From my point of view the important thing for these horses coming back at three is that they make enough physical improvement,’’ Freedman said.

“I think he has made good improvement and the early indications thus far in his work and trials is he’s come back as good as ever and hopefully a little bit better.

“Until you go to the races and put them under pressure you’re never too sure but so far I’ve been happy with how he’s going.”

Triple crown winner Pierro (2012) is the last Slipper winning colt to taste success as a three-year-old, he won Stutt Stakes plus a Group 1 double of the Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder.

What stands Stay Inside in good stead to train on could be the fact he went shin sore as a spring youngster and was given the time he needed before hitting the track earlier this year.

“This time last year he was going well enough but wasn’t really there yet and went really shin sore,’’ he said.

“So that curtailed going any further. When he came back at the end of the calendar year and into the autumn I think he just kept improving. Then he put it all together on race day.

“He only had the four runs so he certainly wasn’t bottomed as a two-year-old and had a fairly trouble free, easy, preparation.

“I think he’s well set up for his three-year-old year, he’s had a nice spell and given every chance to come back.”

Stay Inside was $2.30 favourite with TAB on Thursday in the San Domenico. He’s also on the $8 line in TAB Everest all-in betting so there’s plenty expected of him this spring.

A first-up win could even secure that slot in the $15 million feature on October 16.

He’s won three of his four starts and two of them, including his dominant Slipper win, were on soft 7 tracks so there’s no doubts over his wet track ability.

Freedman said as ready as the colt is for his first-up run, and he will return on Saturday unless there’s a heavy downpour overnight on Friday and Kembla becomes ‘bottomless’, he says the race is no gimme even for a horse as talented as Stay Inside.

“I’m mindful and respectful of the fact there are some pretty handy horses against him,’’ he said.

“I think Paulele was extremely impressive first-up in the Rosebud and I think he will be very much the testing material, particularly getting the pull in the weights and the run under his belt.

“Obviously there’s huge raps around on Remarque who didn’t have a lot of luck the other day.

“My view would be it’s not a win at all costs type of race for him. If he runs well and puts his hand up that he’s come back, even if that doesn’t mean winning, I’ll be very happy.”

Stay Inside's second trial at Randwick on August 20

Away from Stay Inside, Freedman said stablemates Duchess and On The Lead are ready to run well in the ATC’s Most Winning Owners Godolphin Handicap (1000m).

Duchess is racing in top form with three wins from her last four starts while three times stakes placed On The Lead returns as a gelding.

“She’s in a bit of good form at the moment, she’s one of those mares that seems to love being in work,’’ Freedman said of Duchess.

“It’s another step up on Saturday but wet ground won’t worry her, she’s rock hard fit, if you’re going to have a crack it’s probably not a bad race.

“On the Lead I think he has come back a nicer horse as a gelding this time around. He was mixing it with some of the better ones last year, he has his share of talent and I think the gelding has improved him.

“Hopefully that sets him up for a good preparation.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Kembla Grange meeting