Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman has outlined a Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup campaign for German import Our Ivanhowe during the upcoming 2015 Spring Carnival.
Trainer Lee Freedman, above left, will set Our Ivanhowe for a Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup campaign in the Spring. Photo by Taron Clarke.
Our Ivanhowe has had one run for Freedman and co-trainer brother Anthony when seventh to The Bowler in the Group 3 $150,000 Hughes Chauffeured Limousines R A Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 16.
Even though Our Ivanhowe was beaten three lengths as favourite, Freedman was satisfied with the run which was on an unsuitable firm surface for the European stayer and he is looking forward to a profitable Spring Carnival.
“I was very satisfied with his effort on firm ground over a mile,” Freedman told Racing Ahead on RSN.
“I may only give him one run going into the Caulfield Cup and hopefully if everything pans out as we hope then he will press on to the Melbourne Cup.”
“Depending on what Mr Carpenter (Racing Victoria Handicapper) does in terms of the handicaps we’d be keen to run him in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.”
Our Ivanhowe’s run at Morphettville in the Autumn was all a part of his Spring Carnival preparation and even though the rising six year has been resting in a paddock, Freedman has also kept is muscle tone up with regular sessions on the walking machine.
“It allowed me to give the horse five or six weeks down at Pinecliff where he was in the paddock during the day but he also spent some time on the walker and we kept the horse in very light training,” Freedman said.
“Like a lot of these German horses you have to be very mindful of their feet but his feet are very good at the moment and we’ve got a system of shoeing him that I’m confident will be perfect for him going forward.”
Our Ivanhowe is a winner of five races in Germany including two at Group 1 level in 2014, the €250,000 Longines – Grosser Preis Von Baden (2413m) at Baden Baden in September and the €155,000 Pastorius – Grosser Preis Von Bayern (2414m) at Munich in November.
In early 2015 Spring Carnival betting at Ladbrokes.com.au Our Ivanhowe is currently listed at $21 for the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 17 and a $26 chance for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
