Java is set to make his Group 1 debut in the 2015 Orr Stakes at Caulfield this weekend and co-trainer Lee Freedman is confident that the progressive gelding will equit himself well.
Java failed to fire in two race starts as a two-year-old, but he has thrived as a three-year-old and he recorded three straight victories before he scored a maiden win at stakes level in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Australia.
Team Freedman and the Godolphin operation thought long and hard about whether to include Java in the 2015 Orr Stakes field and Freedman told Racing Ahead that he was happy to give the three-year-old an opportunity at the highest level of racing.
“It was highly unexpected, but we just figure that he is a horse on the up,” Freedman said.
“He has done everything right and he is a Group 3 winner at his last start.
“The three-year-olds over the years have had a pretty reasonable record in the race over the years and he is a go forward horse that will make his own luck.
“After weighing it all up with the Godolphin people we have decided to have a go.”
Java has already had four race starts since he started his summer preparation at Kilmore on December 2, but Freedman said that he continues to be impressed with the physical condition of the Medaglia D’Oro gelding.
Freedman admits that Java will need to go to another level to win the Orr Stakes, but he feels that the three-year-old is capable of finishing in the placings if he receives some luck in running in the $400,000 event.
“I am pleased with how he has gone and he looks in great order,” Freedman said.
“We are pretty deep into this prep in the sense that he surprised us a bit with his spiraling rating, but I can’t see anything in the horses work or his demeanor around the stable that suggests he is over the top and it will just be a matter whether he can get some sort of a run in the race that suits him and whether he is up to that grade.
“He is a winner, he knows where the winning post is and I’m sure that whatever he does he will run well.
“I wouldn’t say that I am confident, but he is a good quality three-year-old and he will give 100 percent in the race.
“If everything aligned on the day, he is certainly going to be a top three or four chance.”
Java is currently available at 2015 Orr Stakes odds of $8 with Ladbrokes, while Dissident ($3.10) is a clear favourite from Petrology ($6.50).