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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Michael Freedman is taking a wait and see approach around how to tackle the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick with his Golden Slipper eye-catcher Manaal.

As it did in the Slipper, the barrier luck turned its back on the filly when she came up with the outside alley but on a heavy track he says that may not be such a big issue.

Trainer Michael Freedman (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Manaal jumped from the outside at Rosehill and went back to last before clocking the astest last 600m of the Slipper in 33.44 (Punter’s Intelligence) to run fifth behind Lady Of Camelot.

“She’s come through really well. I went home wondering what might have been if we’d drawn a gate, but that’s part of the game,’’ Freedman said.

“I think we’ve got to wait and see what we get on Saturday, until we see what kind of surface we’re racing on and how it’s racing that’ll determine tactics to a large degree.”

It’s an unknown how Manaal, $7.50 with TAB on Friday, will handle a testing track though her sire Tassort, who only had two starts, ran second on a soft 7 in a Silver Slipper.

The filly, one of six Sires’ runners coming through the Slipper, has always been strong at the finish of her races suggesting she’s looking for 1400m.

“You never know until you try but she gives every indication that she’ll relish going up to that trip,’’ he said.

While Manaal has had two weeks to bounce through her Slipper run, stablemate Wymark is on the back up in the Group 1 $2m Australian Derby (2400m) having won his way into the race with his Tulloch Stakes victory.

Connections paid the $44,000 late entry fee for the gelding who has done nothing but improve with each start.

“It’s unfortunate we have to (pay the late entry) but I’ve stuck my hand up and taken responsibility for it,’’ he said.

“It’s great to have him in the race with some sort of chance.

“He’s had a little bit of form on soft tracks which is good and he seems to have bounced out of Saturday well.”

The Tulloch has produced five of the last seven winners of the Derby including four in a row who completed the double – Jon Snow (2017), Levendi (2018), Angel Of Truth (2019) and Quick Thinker (2020). Last year’s winner Major Beel ran second in the Tulloch.

Freedman said backing up should be of no concern as Wymark seems to be handling plenty of hard racing this campaign.

“He’s had quite a bit of racing, I don’t think we will be blaming fitness if things don’t work out,’’ he said.

“It’s interesting the Tulloch has such a good record in terms of results in the Derby.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 1 of The Star Championships at Randwick