Victory in 2025 The Rosebud could usher in Group 1 targets for Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton
Trainer Michael Freedman is ready to set the bar high with his smart son of Wootton Bassett but will first need to see him back to his best in the first Sydney stakes race of the season.
Pallaton was restricted to just three starts during his juvenile season but showed more than enough to suggest he is a colt with plenty of talent.
The lightly-raced three-year-old was a dominant winner on debut at Royal Randwick last December in a performance that put him high in contention for the Golden Slipper.
But Pallaton never made Australia's coveted two-year-old showpiece after falling flat in two autumn runs.
Freedman is confident he's put the issue behind him as he prepares to unleash the colt in the spring.
'He had his Golden Slipper curtailed when he got a bit of a throat infection after his second run and when he got to the third run he was over the top and overraced badly, showing signs of a two-year-old that wasn't ready to go on with it,' Freedman said.
'He had a nice long break and a nice steady build up.
'The two trials I've been happy so hopefully we can see him show a bit of what we saw on his first start.'
That's a BIG win to Pallaton at Randwick! 🙌 @MFreedmanRacing | @TommyBerry21 | @aus_turf_club | @CoolmoreAus pic.twitter.com/txZneOdLTi
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024
• Rosehill Turf Talk: Cohen keen on $5 best bet as O'Cass spruiks $17 pop
Odds makers have installed Pallaton as a $2.40 favourite in his return with Tommy Berry booked to ride.
A Group 1 date could follow his first-up assignment with Group 1 $750,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 6 a potential target.
'I want to see what unfolds on Saturday and work it out from there but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a Moir if he shaped that way because he is quite a powerfully built sprinting type,' Freedman said.
'I think Saturday will give us a better indication of what path we want to go down with him.
'I am certainly not ruling out the Golden Rose as a possibility and am just keeping a lot of options open for him at the moment.'
2 trials, 2 wins into spring for Pallaton (3c Wootton Bassett x Anevay)
Had an air of potential topliner about him during the 2YO season. We're about to find out! @MFreedmanRacing @CoolmoreAus pic.twitter.com/92U1G5ni3O
— Breednet (@BreednetNews) August 7, 2025
Freedman could already have a three-year-old winner on the program by the time Pallaton goes around with promising stablemate Ninja ($1.95 favourite) set to come to town for the Asahi Super Dry Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).
Ninja broke his maiden in the most memorable performance, scoring eye-catching style with an 11-1/4 length romp at Kembla Grange.
Freedman is wary of overplaying the victory but believes Ninja is a nice horse in the making.
'It was a four horse field on a bog track so I don't think the margin is that significant,' he said.
'He is a nice progressive type and will definitely handle the conditions.
'It is a big jump from a maiden to a Saturday in town but he is still a work in progress.
'I think he is mentally immature at the moment but heading the right way.'
Freedman believes Ninja will be suited stepping out in trip and said he will weigh up giving the gelding his chance in the Group 3 $250,000 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 13 if he runs well again.
Polyglot is another exciting galloper that could be himself in the frame for better races in the spring when he returns in the TAB Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).
It will be Freedman's second Godolphin runner following the success of Ohope at Hawkesbury during the week.
Polyglot, a $5 favourite, had trialled up well in the lead up but James McDonald has been set a task with a tricky draw from barrier 12.
Victory ✌� Victoire 🇫🇷 Victoria 🇰🇸
Polyglot is too good for them at Rosehill and that's an early double for @mcacajamez! @JamesCummings88 | @godolphin | @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/tTR0TUVL6f
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025
•
'I am really happy with Polyglot,' Freedman said.
'He had two nice trials and is obviously familiar with the course and distance but the big concern will be the barrier in terms of where he might get to from the draw.
'I will have a chat to James and see where we think we can get to but he's in good order, just would have liked a softer draw.'
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