Lee Freedman is understandably thrilled to have added Disposition to his stables ahead of the 2015 Spring Carnival, and is confident the talented four-year-old is forward enough for success in Saturday’s Listed The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington.
Disposition (inside, pink silks) is primed for success in The Sofitel at Flemington first-up. Photo: Sarah Ebbett
Disposition stamped his claims as one to watch through a standout three-year-old season during the 2014 Perth Summer Carnival before being transferred to the care of Wez Hunter for a brief but impressive autumn campaign.
Freedman has been particularly impressed by the constitution of the Reset gelding and is excited by his chances for success in the 2015 The Sofitel first-up.
“I’m really pleased with him and I thought this was a nice starting point for him because it’s a Listed race and because of his rating he got on pretty well at the Handicap,” Freedman told Racing Ahead.
“For a horse of his ability it’s a little luxury that we can indulge.
“I’ve been really pleased with him over the last three or four weeks and I think he’s pretty untapped and we don’t know a lot about him other than the little cameos we say in Melbourne.
“I’m looking forward to him resuming and with even luck I think he’s going to be a real nuisance in the race.”
Freedman revealed he will allow champion jockey Damien Oliver to decide Disposition’s plan of attack in the 2015 The Sofitel, but believes the horse is best ridden mid-pack before launching a late assault.
“Damien and I have had a long association and more often than not I leave it up to him,” he said.
“I would think from 4 we won’t waste the gate – we won’t be right on top of the speed but we’d like to be getting a nice run just back off the pace.
“Hopefully he gets clear ground because he’s got a really booming finish when he’s ridden that way and hopefully we’ll see that on Saturday.”
Posting four wins and three minors through nine competitive starts so far, Disposition won each of the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) and Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) before finishing second in both the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
Running an agonizingly-close second to Wandjina in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) first-up in February, Disposition was unlucky to be ruled out of the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) with a minor ailment but returned to the paddock following a credible run for fourth in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).
Ladbrokes.com.au is currently offering the best odds on The Sofitel, for which Disposition can be taken at a quote of $2.90 for success; having been back in from a quote of $3.10.
