KEY POINTS:
Lee Freedman is eagerly awaiting today's return clash between his star mare, Miss Andretti, and the Ron Maund-trained Gold Edition in the group one The Age Classic at Flemington.
Miss Andretti holds a two-nil advantage over Gold Edition having beaten the grey by a head in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield in March and by a length in the Schweppes Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
Gold Edition goes into today's 1200m weight-for-age feature unbeaten in two starts at Flemington after she won the Ascot Vale Stakes by four lengths and the Schweppes Stakes by seven lengths during Melbourne Cup week last year.
Miss Andretti has had three starts at Flemington for a win and a third.
"It's a very good race because Gold Edition is so brilliant down the straight," Freedman said.
"But my mare is going extremely well and you would think, fitness-wise, she would have taken a bit more out of the [Moonee] Valley run than perhaps Gold Edition might have," he added.
Freedman said he has no concerns about Miss Andretti taking on Gold Edition down the straight course - even though her record doesn't look quite as good on paper. "She won the King's Stand Stakes down the straight at Royal Ascot and she's won down the straight at Flemington," he said.
"She was over the top when she failed in the Salinger last year," Freedman added. He was referring to her third to Dance Hero and Shadoways in the group one 1200m event on Derby Day last year.
Miss Andretti ran 11th to Takeover Target in the 2006 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington when having her last start for trainer and part-owner David Mueller before she was transferred to the Freedman stable and won the Listed Straight Six (1200m) a couple of months later.
The heavy conditions were to blame for her weakening 15th to Soldier's Tale in the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1207m) at Royal Ascot in June.
Freedman said the small field of six runners today was "probably good".
"It'll make it a one-on-one contest and there won't be any excuses due to interference," he said.
The plan with Miss Andretti is to go to Hong Kong for the International Sprint next month, but at this stage she may be the only Australian horse to make the trip this year.
"I'm a little bit concerned there are no other (Australian) horses going to Hong Kong," Freedman told radio station Sport 927 yesterday.
"It may make it a little bit more difficult for her in terms of the solitude that's she's going to have to put up with here and over in Hong Kong.
"It's a little disappointing. I thought somehow, with all those good races on up there, there would be something making the trip with us."
Miss Andretti is the $1.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet for The Age Classic.
* Flemington markets (TAB Sportsbet):
The Age Classic: $1.40 Miss Andretti; $3.50 Gold Edition; $13 Swick; $31 Catechuchu; $61 Stanzout; $81 Eskaw.
Emirates Stks: $2 Weekend Hussler; $5 Sonic Quest; $6.50 Wonderful World; $12 Niconero; $13 Roman Squire; $18 Valedictum; $31 Orange County, Lad Of The Manor; $41 Undue, Lord Of The Dance; $61 Dr Nipandtuck.
- AAP
