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By Ray Hickson

It’s going to take a smart ride and a touch of luck but trainer Michael Freedman sees no reason why Yiska can’t stake his claim for back-to-back Midway wins at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Michael Freedman (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The four-year-old, who started out in Freedman’s brother Lee’s care before moving to Mark Newnham then onto Michael, posted his first win in over two years when he raced away with an 1100m Midway two weeks ago.

Freedman said on that occasion he was able to make full use of an inside barrier and stalk the speed before launching but he’s not blessed with that advantage stepping up to 1200m.

That’s Kerrin McEvoy’s job as Yiska, $4.20 with TAB on Thursday, has drawn 13 as opposed to two when Rory Hutchings was the beneficiary.

“From barrier two Rory was able to hold a nice spot just behind the leaders and I think Kerrin will have to work that out after he jumps,’’ Freedman said.

“He has reasonably good tactical speed. Maybe at the slightly softer tempo of 1200m he could tactically roll forward if he needed it.

“Apart from the slightly wider barrier, and carrying a touch more weight, it’s not too dissimilar to the type of race he ran in a fortnight ago.”

Yiska has had six starts for Freedman with his last start win his first appearance on the podium but he’s confident the gelding can be a more frequent visitor to the top three now he knows more about his strengths.

“It’s my first proper preparation with this bloke and it’s taken me a few runs to work him out,’’ he said.

“I think keeping him on the fresh side is best and 1200m would be his outer limit. The 1300m at Scone was probably a step too far for him.

“He seems to be maintaining really good form, he’s fit and he’s happy. The prospect of a decent track is what he needs.”

Freedman has an intriguing import called Tommy Thug making his debut for the stable in the Klein Tools Australia Plate (1500m) at Newcastle.

The gelding hasn’t raced since September when he was runner up to Earth Dance, who is now in the Snowden stable and was a recent Wyong winner, at Navan in Ireland.

He hasn’t shown Freedman a great deal in his two barrier trials and the trainer would like to see something on race day.

“He’s still a maiden, I think he’s going to need a hell of a lot further than what he’s in on Saturday,’’ he said.

“Like a lot of these imports there’s not much point in stepping them out in anything shorter.

“While I’d be surprised if he could win over 1500m you'd like to see him putting in a good run and giving you some encouragement that next time you could step him out to 1800m or 2000m.”

Meanwhile, Group 1 winning filly Manaal will be back in Freedman’s Randwick stable on Friday to begin her build up to the spring.

Yiska wins at Rosehill on June 1

The Inglis Sires’ winner ran fourth in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) before her break and it’s expected she will kick off in the Princess Series.

“She had a nice six weeks off, she looks great and she’s put weight on,’’ Freedman said.

“I’m looking forward to starting to get her ticking along and you’d like to think she’d be ready to start back at the trials in the early part of August.”

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