โHe got on the chewy and went a bit keen, and when two-year-olds panic and do things like that, thatโs when they can flick their palate.
โWeโll ride him a bit more with cover on the weekend and see if he can produce what heโs been showing us at home.โ
Freedman hoped Incognito could stamp his ticket to the March 21, $5 million Slipper, a race the Randwick trainer won last year with Marhoona. Incognito, with $147,100 in prizemoney, is all but in the race but needs to show he can challenge.
โYou donโt want to be wasting your time, heading to those races if you donโt think you can win them,โ Freedman said.
He said the stableโs other Slipper hopes, Outspan and Hardanger, would likely race Saturday week in the Skyline and Sweet Embrace Stakes respectively. Saturday city winner Satin Summer has been spelled.
Ninja returns from a freshen-up and one strong trial to take on a hot field in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Berry was pleased with a kind draw in three.
โThe 1400 is probably going to suit us more than Autumn Boy, heโll get back a little bit, and Attica, they are horses who will probably be suited more at the mile and further,โ Berry said.
โOur guy hasnโt drawn a barrier for quite a while, especially in his starts in Queensland. Heโs had to do a heap of work and still been very good, so weโre excited to see him on the weekend after drawing well.
โHeโs trialled up very nicely, and I just really think that trip to Queensland has been the making of him. Heโs come back a more relaxed type.โ
Asked if the MM Guineas loss still hurt, he said: โItโs one of those you have to get over it. Itโs right on the doorstep of the autumn, so if you hang onto those it makes for a long campaign.
โWeโve had a bit of a frustrating start with Apocalyptic and Incognito going under as well, but thatโs racing. Michael has been in it a long time and Iโve been in it a while as well, and we both know weโve just got to move on and concentrate on what we can conquer.โ
Ninja faces Group 1 winners Attica and Autumn Boy for the first time and Freedman was happy with how he shaped up for the clash.
โThereโs lots of different form guides going into it, so itโs a pretty intriguing race,โ Freedman said.
โHeโs obviously shown good form over 1400 so itโs a nice option, but thereโs good opposition there.โ
In the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m), Freedman has a strong hand with Godolphin pair Cinsault ($6.50) and Mareth ($10). Cinsault has won her past two, in benchmark 72 and 78 grade and Mareth was second last time out in the Gosford Guineas.
โItโs a big step up in grade, but sheโs in good form and has drawn a soft alley, so we figure itโs worth a try,โ he said of Cinsault.
โMareth has done really well this preparation. I thought her trial at Canterbury was good the other day.โ
He said Apocalyptic had come through her second in the Light Fingers Stakes well and would push on to the Surround Stakes.
Manaal, second last week in the Triscay Stakes, could go to the Guy Walter or Canterbury Stakes. He said Marhoona, sixth in the Lightning Stakes on Saturday, was back in Sydney.
