Freedman sticking to patient path despite lure of conquering Everest

2 hours ago 1

By Craig Kerry

September 18, 2025 — 5.00pm

A patient approach with his star fillies has served Michael Freedman well, and he has little interest in changing that, even with Everest spots up for grabs.

The Randwick trainer is set to bring back Golden Slipper winner Marhoona in the group 2 Shorts (1100m) on Saturday, a key lead up to the 1200m $20 million Everest on October 18, but he is also open to waiting a week for other races.

Apocalyptic and jockey Tommy Berry win the Furious Stakes at Randwick.

Freedman also has Apocalyptic racing on Saturday’s Randwick card, where she is set to step up from a return win in the group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) to the 1400m Tea Rose Stakes, the next leg of the Princess Series for three-year-old fillies.

Both are $34 (Sportsbet) for the Everest in early markets as slot-holders search for the best remaining options. Seven of the 12-strong field have been chosen, including Joliestar, Briasa and Private Harry, which all resume in the Shorts.

Seven of last year’s contingent have retired, and Stefi Magnetica, Private Eye, Lady Of Camelot and Giga Kick appear on different paths, leaving Joliestar as potentially the only survivor from that field to tackle the 2025 edition.

Asked if he had received any interest from slot-holders about his fillies, Freedman said, “No, not really.”

And he was happy to push Apocalyptic out in trip for the Princess Series, rather than chase shorter races and Everest interest.

Marhoona (outside) takes out the Golden Slipper in March.

“I would think a filly who has had only two lifetime starts is probably biting off a bit more than she could chew if we were to line her up in an Everest against world-class sprinters,” Freedman said.

Apocalyptic, his “No.1 seed” early in Golden Slipper calculations, was a luckless second at Randwick in December on debut before Freedman ended her campaign because of a nagging foot abscess. His patience was rewarded when the daughter of Extreme Choice flashed home through the pack to win the Furious Stakes two weeks ago.

“It was a good effort and looking forward to giving her a chance at 1400,” he said.

“It’s going to be another tough race because I thought Within The Law and Tupakara were both good runs in the Furious, but I’m happy with my filly, she’s trained on well.

“I think we’ll learn a bit more about her on the weekend as to whether she stretches to the mile. She gives the indication she will, but you are never really sure.”

Apocalyptic ($2.80 Sportsbet) firmed into favouritism ahead Tupakara ($3.90) and Within The Law ($4.60) in the Tea Rose.

Marhoona, which won the Slipper at just her third run, was to resume in the Furious or Moir Stakes on September 6, but Freedman opted to wait. He is still unsure when she will return and will likely make a decision on Friday. The Snitzel filly is $15 for the Shorts after drawing barrier seven of 10. Tommy Berry returns from suspension to ride both Freedman fillies.

“I just wanted to give her an extra trial under her belt, which was good, and she’s gone on well from it,” he said.

“We’ll have a look at the race and how it sets up, but we do have the option of waiting until the week after for the Heritage Stakes, or even the Manikato Stakes as a remote possibility, so we are just keeping a few options open.

“But I’ve been very happy with her.”

Freedman is looking to the group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1 as a spring grand final for Marhoona.

“There’s not really many good options for a group 1-winning filly because they carry the penalty in all these set-weights and penalties races, so there’s no real rush to have them back for anything for the spring of any real note, so that’s why we’ve decided to just take our time and maybe target a Coolmore later in the spring,” he said.

“Then we might try to stretch her out a bit more in the autumn.”

He said Manaal had come through her Sheraco Stakes win on Saturday well and could line up in the Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill on September 27 with The Invitation (October 25) and Golden Eagle (November 1) as other targets.

Meanwhile, he said Spirit Of Wealth was set to spell and undergo remedial work after again playing up in the barriers in a winning trial on Tuesday at Randwick.

An odds-on favourite at Randwick on September 6, Spirit Of Wealth reared in the gates but was not taken out. The barriers opened soon after and she finished second last. Freedman said she returned with a broken tooth from the incident.

“She trialled well, but she still had some barrier mishaps, so I think we’ll have to send her away and have someone do some remedial work,” he said.