Co-trainer Lee Freedman has been thrilled with the condition of Hazard over four starts this campaign and has revealed the mare has booked a ticket north for the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on June 6th.
Hazard will progress to Saturday week’s Dane Ripper Stakes at Doomben. Photo: Jenny Barnes
Posting nine wins and a further five minors through her 24 career starts so far, Hazard won the Grand Hotel Frankston BM90 (1000m) first-up on April 1st, and while unlucky to be blocked for a run and seventh in the Listed Be Esprit Stakes (1100m), responded in the best way possible when comfortably beating a classy field to the line in the Ern Jensen Funerals Handicap (1100m) on May 2nd.
Having since secured an impressive one length win in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m), Freedman has been understandably pleased with the results posted by the daughter of Flying Spur so far and is confident she is capable of continuing her impressive run through the 2015 Dane Ripper Stakes.
“She’s in great form,” Freedman told Racing Ahead.
“This has probably been her career-best preparation and I thought her win was very good over in Adelaide (Proud Miss Stakes).
“She’s come home and had a fairly easy ten days and a good strong gallop on the grass here this morning.
“She’ll be off the Brisbane to run in the Dane Ripper Saturday week.”
Finding exceptional form over a strong 2014 campaign, Hazard finished in the minors in both the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) before taking out the Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m) most notably through autumn.
Returning in spring for a credible sixth in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), Hazard finished fifth in the Listed Black Pearl Classic (1200m) on October 22nd but returned to the paddock after failing to fire in the Group 3 HK Jockey Club Stakes (1400m).
Nominations for the 2015 Dane Ripper Stakes are due by Monday, May 1st while a final field and barrier due will be completed and released two days later.
