Trainer Lee Freedman will test Reparations’ Group 1 credentials when he contests the Listed $120,000 Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Reparations to be tested for a future Group 1 assignment in the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
The Goldolphin owned Reparations has been enlisted to carry the 60kg topweight in the Listed race this weekend and another win at this level will see the six year old weighted out of similar class races.
Reparations resumed from a spell with a first up win in the Listed $150,000 MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 4 then after a freshen up carried 59kg when third to Decircles in the Group 3 $150,000 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
The Exceed And Excel gelding currently carries a rating of 102 and a win on Saturday will lift that rating even higher.
“He’s going great but the problem for him now, particularly at this time of the year, is that he’s the top rated horse so he gets the top weight,” Freedman said.
“I thought he carried it well in the Standish in a muddling run race.”
“He should get a soft run just off the pace and the tempo of the 1400m will suit him better.”
Freedman, who trains in partnership with his brother Anthony, has tentatively picked out the Group 1 $500,000 The Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 16 as a likely Group 1 assignment.
“I guess he will have to advance his rating on Saturday and if he did so we would probably give him a little break and bring him back for a race like the Goodwood,” Freedman said.
“It’s weight for age now but doesn’t normally attract a true weight for age field and he’s meeting his rivals on similar weight terms.”
Reparations is up a kilo for his third in the Standish Handicap but will meet the winner, Decircles, on 2.5kg better terms for his two lengths defeat and Freedman believes that if he gets a good run just off the pace he will be right in the finish despite the big weight.
“I came up in an era when horses did carry weights, whilst it’s not a tick in the box, he is certainly going well,” Freedman said.
“If he doesn’t win he will be right there.”
Gerald Ryan’s exciting sprinter Red Excitement heads the market order for the Chester Manifold Stakes and is the $3.80 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of last start Sandown winner Tried And Tired at $5.
Reparations shares the next line of betting at $7 with South Australian galloper Boristar while the front running Lord Of The Sky is marked at $7.50.
Decircles is listed as a $12 chance alongside of the Robert Smerdon trained Go The Knuckle.
