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By Ray Hickson

It’s always been the view of co-trainer Will Freedman that Elettrica was a handy mare but he says her rise to stakes winner isn’t so much a surprise but a reward for her resolve.

Will Freedman (Pic: Bradley Photos)

After notching her first Listed win in Queensland a month ago she’s earned a shot at Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.

For a lot of 2023 and 2024 Elettrica was a mainstay in Midway company but she’s clearly taken large strides in the past six months.

“I don’t really know what to put it down to, she’s a happy horse that’s for sure, but she’s taken a while to mature above all else,’’ Freedman said.

“We give her a lot of time in the paddock between runs and try to keep her in a good mental state. She doesn’t mind travelling either.

“She earned something like a quarter of a million in Midway grade only having won a couple and now she’s taken the next step.

“There’s some method behind putting them in harder grade at some point because as soon as she’s stepped up in grade she’s been able to maintain her competitiveness and that’s testament to her.”

It’s likely to be a different scenario for Elettrica in the Millie Fox, where she’s drawn three in a small field, that in the Sunshine Coast Cup where she rounded them up from near last.

Freedman said it’s important the six-year-old, $5 with TAB on Friday, gets the sort of run in transit to play to her strengths.

“We learned she needs that touch of cover,’’ he said.

“It looks like a slowly run race, there’s not a lot of genuine speed in it, but she’s drawn nice and should be able to position herself up behind the speed and hopefully with that little bit of cover.

“You won’t find too many more genuine than her, she’s definitely in a purple patch.

“She’s probably struck a race where a few of the fancied runners are coming off an extended break and she’s the fit racehorse.”

Another honest performance will likely see Elettrica earn a trip to New Zealand for the Group 1 Breeders Stakes next month.

If Elettrica performs well, Freedman said he would expect Coastwatch to be very competitive in the Chandon Handicap (1400m).

That’s because they tend to work together and he saw something in their gallop earlier this week.

“They both worked terrific on the course proper on Wednesday and they were going as well as each other,’’ he said.

“Last start I could have tipped you into Elettrica because she outworked Coastwatch but this time he kept his own against her.

Elettrica wins at the Sunshine Coast on January 25

“If she runs well in the Millie Fox I’d be confident Coastwatch will, albeit he’s got a bit of a sticky draw he has to contend with.

“He has tactical speed so hopefully he can roll forward and find a nice position either outside the leader or just behind the leaders.”

Coastwatch gave his new owners an instant return when he won the Barton Stakes at Sandown a month ago and he’s being set for the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) on March 7.

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