Coolmore Stakes the plan for Tropicus
Following Tropicus’ impressive debut triumph at Caulfield on Saturday, co-trainer Sam Freedman made no secret of the high regard the stable hold the colt in, revealing next season’s Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) will now be the plan for the son of Too Darn Hot (Dubawi).
Ridden by Daniel Moor, the colt defeated Stormbourg (Strasbourg) by 0.5 lengths, while Just For Show (Showtime) finished a further length away in third.
“I think the most pleasing part was the fact he spat the bridle out at the 500 [metres] and really picked up and chased the line,” Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, told Racing.com.
“I think one thing he’s always shown us, he’s got way more off the bridle than he has on the bridle, which is often the reverse with horses that cruise along and don’t find a lot.
“He was challenged there at the top of the straight and he really had to dig into his reserves and was very strong to the line.
“It’s never easy to win in town on debut. We are mindful that he’s a colt that’s going places and will probably have a very bright future.
“The spring comes up pretty quickly, so there’s a chance we’ll put him out and aim up at the Coolmore.”
The past two Coolmore winners have also emerged at the same time of year in non-stakes races.
The 2023 winner Ozzmosis (Zoustar) made his debut in May of that year at Gosford while in 2022, In Secret (I Am Invincible) had her first run in a Hawkesbury maiden in April.