Freedman Keeping Insurrection's Targets Short And Sweet

Trainer Michael Freedman plans to keep consistent three-year-old Insurrection in his comfort zone through his winter campaign and he hopes it can start in positive fashion at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

The gelding has started five times at 1200m in his 12 starts and while he’s managed three placings the trainer feels he can be better placed below that distance to take advantage of his speed rather than asking him to stretch his limits.

“He’s a good fast horse, I think we will just keep him to those shorter course distances,’’ Freedman said.

“He ran a terrific race up the straight six (in the Inglis Sprint) and ran into a pretty smart one.

“That was probably the day I felt maybe it's best to keep him to 1000m or 1100m where he can use his biggest asset which is his speed.

“He came back and ran at Rosehill and was probably over the top so he’s had a nice little break.”

That last run was in the Listed Darby Munro, won by Opal Ridge, and he started a $9 chance on the back of a third behind Benedetta and Paris Dior at Flemington.

Freedman said The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1000m) is an ideal starting point for Insurrection, $2.30 with TAB on Tuesday, and an opportunity to make use of his apprentice Jasper Franklin’s 3kg claim having partnered the horse in a sharp trial win two weeks ago.

“He’s a genuine horse and he’d be one that hopefully can race through the winter months and the early part of the spring,’’ he said.

“He trials like that most of the time, it was a good strong trial and seems to have come out of it well.

“I realised with his benchmark that he’d get a fair bit of weight so Jasper has had a sit on him and likes the way he’s going.

“He’s an on pace sort of horse, that's his natural style so we won’t be changing that.”

Snitzel colt Gelatin makes his debut in the TAB Handicap (1200m) and Freedman is a little cautious in a race with a lot of question marks but is confident the youngster has some ability to work with.

Freedman has had to be patient with Gelatin, who has gone shinsore a couple of times, but has seen enough in his two trials leading in to suggest he can run a race first-up.

“He’s a raw type of horse and has taken a little while to get to the races,’’ he said.

“I’ve liked both of his trials but he’s still a work in progress and he will continue to furnish into the spring and probably next autumn.”

Speaking of spring, Freedman welcomes quite a bit of talent back into his stable this week including Randwick Guineas winner Communist and smart two-year-old Blanc De Blanc.

He said Communist is likely to be set for the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) if he comes up as hoped for his four-year-old season.

“They’ll kick off from this week and have a nice steady build up,’’ he said.

“(Communist) ran a super race at the Rosehill 1500m in the George Ryder so the Golden Eagle would be a potential target race for him.”