Third Blue Sapphire Within Reach For Freedman

Top trainer Lee Freedman is hoping he can nab a third Blue Sapphire tomorrow when his two horses Spatha and Baptism take to the track.

While Freedman believes Baptism may well become his superior galloper in the future, he feels that Spatha is most likely his best chance in the Listed Blue Sapphire.

“Long-term Baptism maybe the better horse because she will get over a bit ground but on Saturday, Spatha, with a good draw and winning form probably has the edge on her,” Freedman said.

Spartha won his last start in Adelaide and ran on from last to finish fourth in his debut run at Moonee Valley.

“He only won in Adelaide last start but he did win easily and he did run time so he is worth a crack at this race,” Freedman said.

“He showed some improvement from the experience at Moonee Valley and if the Adelaide form holds up he certainly has got a big chance.”

Baptism will have her second ever start in the Blue Sapphire, after finishing fourth in a field of five in her debut run at Caulfield last month.

“She had some bad draws and funny tracks and we’ve got the feeling we are only going to get a couple of runs out of her as a two-year-old,’ Freedman said.

“We thought we might as well make it count and run her in a stakes race and see what she can do.

“It is hard to know how two-year-olds will go when they have been in training a while and have five or six weeks between runs but she seems well in herself.

“If she runs up to her first start and shows some improvement from that then she is certainly going to be in it.”

Lee Freedman won his first two Blue Sapphire titles with Readyforcatherine in 2005 and Smokin’ Joey in 2010.

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