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| Staff Writer |
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Michael Freedman is rolling the dice with Moravia, opting for a high-stakes return in Saturday's Gr.3 Concorde Stakes at Randwick. The 4YO gelding finds himself thrust into a field brimming with The Everest contenders, a far cry from the original benchmark race planned for his comeback.
Scratching from last Saturday's Rosehill card after drawing the widest alley, Freedman is now eyeing the 1000-metre sprint as a launching pad for Moravia's campaign. The trainer, while acknowledging the step up in class, remains undaunted by the challenge ahead.
"Early indications this time back, with his trackwork and trials, are that he is very switched on and focused," Freedman remarked, hinting at a reinvigorated Moravia following his gelding operation.
The Concorde's allure as an Everest audition has drawn a formidable field. Giga Kick, the 2022 The Everest champion, is plotting his comeback, while Group One heroine Bella Nipotina and the ever-consistent Private Eye add further depth to the contest.
Moravia's form tapered off during the Sydney autumn, prompting connections to reach for the ultimate gear change. Two unplaced runs in Queensland followed, but Freedman is drawing a line through those performances.
"He had a semi-prep last time where he was gelded, then he had three weeks off, then he went to Queensland," the trainer explained. "He struck a bottomless heavy ten (track) at the Sunshine Coast and got caught wide from a bad gate at his second start up there then went back to the paddock."
The Concorde Stakes has a rich history of unearthing sprinting talent. Redzel claimed back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018, using the race as a springboard to his dual Everest triumphs. More recently, Nature Strip powered to victory in 2021, further cementing his status as Australia's premier sprinter before his own Everest success.
With firm ground expected on Saturday, conditions should play to Moravia's strengths. The low draw in barrier five, coupled with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle, offers a glimmer of hope for the Freedman camp as they face this acid test.
As the spring carnival gathers momentum, all eyes will be on Randwick to see if Moravia can stake his claim among the sprinting elite. While the path to this point may not have been as Freedman initially mapped out, the stage is set for a potential coming-of-age performance from the son of Not A Single Doubt.