Freedman eyes Sydney features with Asakura
It has not been smooth sailing with the Mitch Freedman-trained Asakura (Churchill), who fell ill after returning home from his spell following his fourth placing in The Kiwi on March 7.
But the Ballarat trainer was happy with what he saw from the gelding in two jumpouts in the second half of July and said he would be given every opportunity to prove himself worthy of a shot at the A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 31.
"He's still a little bit immature, so anything he does over the next 12 months is a bonus and we'd be expecting him to improve as he gets older," Freedman said.
"He's a nice horse and he's got ability so if he can't get it done this prep then we can certainly be happy that we've got a nice horse and look to improve in preps down the track."
Asakura, who was runner-up to Sixties (Flying Artie) in the Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) the start before the 1500m The Kiwi, is entered for the 1200m BM94 at Rosehill along with the Gr.3 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) and the 1400m BM90 at Caulfield.
Bred by Jomara Bloodstock, Asakura is and out of winning So You Think mare Sasanqua (NZ). He was offered through Hallmark Stud’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was bought by Freedman for $140,000.
Jomara Bloodstock, operated by siblings John, Mark and Rachael Carter, retained a share in the gelding.
