Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman is keen on the chances of Cool Chap when he contests the Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Trainer Lee Freedman is keen on the chances of Cool Chap in the South Australian Derby at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Cool Chap has had three wins for Freedman and co-trainer Anthony Freedman for two wins and a second and will head to the South Australian Derby after producing a solid staying performance to record a two and a quarter lengths win over Etymology in the Listed $200,000 VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on April 25.
“I think he’s a great chance if he draws well. He’s a genuine horse and he stays well,” Freedman told AAP.
Cool Chap has only been in the Freedman stable for eight weeks after being transferred out of the Peter Moody yard after the premiership winning trainer was suspended on cobalt related charges.
He scored first up for the Freedman brothers with a win in a 2000m three year old Handicap at Caulfield on March 26 followed by a second to South Australian Derby rival Charlevoix in Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Sandown on April 9.
Freedman said that Cool Chap would miss the Spring Carnival no matter what the result was in the South Australian Derby and head to the paddock for good spell.
“He’s been a bit of a revelation. He’s a lovely horse, but we probably won’t push on for a big spring campaign,” Freedman said.
“He’s a bit immature yet and I’m giving him a relatively big autumn, so we’ll probably be a bit light on him in the spring.”
Jockey Daniel Stackhouse gets his chance to maintain his unbeaten record on Cool Chap in the South Australian Derby after having ridden the High Chaparral gelding in his two recent wins at Caulfield and Flemington.
“You definitely know he’ll get the trip and he’s got the class to go against the good horses,” Stackhouse said.
“Group Ones are always the hardest one to get, so it would be a big privilege to win it.”
The Mick Kent trained Charlevoix heads the market order for the South Australian Derby at $4.20 with Cool Chap on the second line of betting at $6.50.
