Nozomi Gearing Up For Return
- Sunday, 01 February 2015 07:32
Victoria Derby placegetter Nozomi has shown enough in a Cranbourne barrier trial to convince co-trainer Lee Freedman he can take another step in the autumn.
The son of Street Cry wasn't pushed around when sixth in his heat behind Zebulon who ran the 800 metres in 46.03 secs.
Freedman, who trains the colt in partnership with his brother Anthony, said the three-year-old had come back from a break in good order.
He said Nozomi, who was ridden by Dwayne Dunn at Cranbourne, was not out to do anything serious and was likely to have another trial before a return to racing.
Nozomi is entered for both the Australian Guineas (1600m) and the Australian Cup (2000m) in March. Freedman said Nozomi was likely to resume in the C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 21.
"Dwayne was happy with him and he knows the horse well," Freedman said.
"We didn't want him to do a lot and Dwayne just opened him up for about half a furlong and then shut him down.
"We didn't trial him in his blinkers so it was just an exercise in fitness.
"He'll probably have another one before he kicks off."
Freedman said plans were still to be finalised for Nozomi, although he hoped the colt could make his way to Sydney for a rematch with Preferment and Derby runner-up Bondeiger in the major three-year-old races during the carnival.
"Hopefully he's made enough improvement to take on those horses again in Sydney," Freedman said.
After breaking his maiden at Kyneton in early October, Nozomi beat Preferment in the Geelong Classic before his Derby placing.
