Golden Spin will face the toughest test of his racing career to date in the 2016 Manfred Stakes and co-trainer Lee Freedman is confident that the pocket rocket can maintain his winning form in the Group 3 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Golden Spin has the chance to record a fifth straight victory in the 2016 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Golden Spin started his summer preparation with a win in the Bertocchi Famous Xmas Ham Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on December 11 and he scored a very gritty win in the Frank O’Brien Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day before he led from start to finish to take out the Jack Dunn Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on January 9.
Freedman admits that Golden Spin faces easily the toughest challenge of his racing career to date in the Manfred Stakes this weekend, but he believes that the Medaglia D’Oro colt has the tenacity to make it five wins on the trot.
“He is not very big, but he attacks the line all the time,” Freedman told Racing Ahead.
“We keeping the bar up for him and he has got the bar a bit higher this weekend in the Group 3, but the way he is racing and the way he loves to win, I wouldn’t rule out the fact that he could beat Group 3 horses.
“He went down to Pinecliff for a week and had some salt water and a change of scenery and he absolutely loved that.”
Golden Spin has shown a degree of tactical versatility during his racing career to date and he led from start to finish to win in dominant fashion at Caulfield last year.
Freedman said that he wished Golden Spin had not drawn barrier ten, but he is hopeful that the talented galloper has enough early speed to be able to settle in a forward position.
“We are up against a much tougher field and bar one run he is used to bad barrier draws this horse,” Freedman said.
“The good thing is about him is that he is tremendously quick out of the gates, which is a great advantage if you have drawn wide.
“You get yourself into a forward position and I will let Mark work it out from there.
“He is not a difficult horse to ride and we will devise a plan around that.”
Golden Spin is currently available at 2016 Manfred Stakes odds of $4.40 with Ladbrokes and he is a narrow favourite from Palentino ($4.80), Vostok ($5.50), Ready For Victory ($8) and Tulsa ($10).
