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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Michael Freedman is placing no emphasis on Ducasse’s second-up record as he hopes to unearth the four-year-old as a lightweight Doncaster Mile hope at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Michael Freedman

He’s has four second-up starts to date with seventh his best finishing position but Freedman said his past performance is not a reliable guide as the Group 2 $300,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) is his first as a gelding.

That decision to geld had an immediate impact when he won first-up at Rosehill three weeks ago.

“You probably treat everything a bit differently,’’ Freedman said.

“He’s probably come back a bit of an improved article, obviously going to Saturday’s race is a big jump in grade but I’m happy with him.

“They can take a fairly significant leap in improvement so I wouldn’t read too much into his second-up record. Three weeks between his first and second-up run this time around and 1400m to 1500m is a nice step up for him.”

Ducasse, $4.60 with TAB on Friday, was well supported when he ran down Headley Grange to score on his resumption though Freedman was a little surprised to be pre-post favourite for the Group 2.

Tim Clark rides him at 53kg from the inside barrier so Freedman says he’s he’ll have his chance to force his way into the Doncaster Mile where he has just 50kg.

“He’s drawn a soft barrier so if he can run well in that it potentially opens up a few possibilities,’’ he said.

“He does love the Randwick mile, not sure if he has the class for that sort of race but if he could sneak in (to a Doncaster) with a light weight and we get a bit of rain he could be competitive.

“Saturday will give us a good indication of where we’re heading with him. Hopefully the market is right.”

Freedman is adamant Group 1 winning filly Manaal is going a lot better than the form guide reads but concedes she will need some luck to offset another wide barrier on Saturday.

He dual accepted for both the Phar Lap and the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Classic (1500m), drew gate 11 in both and elected to run in the latter where she’ll carry 51kg and that could be significant to what tactics are employed.

Manaal ran fifth behind Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes after racing four wide without cover through the 1400m.

“Jason (Collett) made the comment that, frustratingly, if she’d have been able to get any sort of run in the Surround she could have been right in the finish,’’ he said.

“I haven’t had an in-depth look at how the race may shape but with 51kg you certainly wouldn’t want to be wasting that sort of weight.

“I’ll have a good chat to Rachel (King) about where we think we might be able to get to on her, you’d want to at least be able to get some cover where you can make use of the weight.

“I’ll just cross my fingers and toes I think. It’s a shame because she’s going very well but you’re in the lap of the gods when you’ve got to jump from those gates.”

Michael Freedman on Valedictorian (race 3): “It was only that he was first-up over 1200m against race fit horses the other day. I think he has come on quite a bit fitness wise since that. He’s drawn to get a nice enough run and I think he can acquit himself very well. If he doesn’t win but runs well he’s a horse we can keep an eye on the Sires’ Produce for.”

Ducasse wins at Rosehill on February 22

On Extractor (race 3): “He just spent the entire race like a pinball, he got flattened at the start and was back near last. It was pretty much a forget run. His form prior he finished alongside the horse that won the Silver Slipper and he only finished a short margin behind the other two in the Golden Gift back in the spring so his form is actually pretty good.”

On Insurrection (race 7): “He’s drawn off the track so we have to have a think about where we try and ride him. I would doubt with the 58.5kg he’ll try and burn across and lead that sort of field.”

On Time To Boogie (race 7): “He’s earned his chance at a race like this, he’s in good form. It’s a big jump in grade but he’s drawn nicely. There’s a lot of speed in that race so it’ll be interesting to see where he lands.”

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