Trainer Lee Freedman has confirmed classy stable mates Authoritarian and Berserk remain live chances of running in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) on Saturday week, particularly if the Morphettville track experiences notable rain.
VRC St Leger winner Authoritarian looks likely to contest the 2015 SA Derby. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell
Authoritarian has found exceptional form leading into the South Australian feature race for three-year-olds and will be chasing a third consecutive win should he accept, having taken out each of the B&B Aluminium Plate (2424m) and Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) with ease most recently.
While somewhat less convincing than his stable mate, Berserk has secured several notable results of his own; winning the Peter Gelagotis Racing Maiden (2060m) before finishing sixth in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2500m) and fourth in the VRC St Leger over the weekend.
Thrilled with the results posted by the pair over their short racing careers so far, Freedman told RSN both Authoritarian and Berserk have been kept in work with a view towards the 2015 SA Derby.
“We’ll just keep them in work for the next week and assess how they’ve come through the run – so far they look terrific,” Freedman said.
“I would be very much inclined to have a crack at that with Authoritarian if the rain came in South Australia.
“I think the horse, as fit as he is now, it would take a good one to beat him in soft ground over there.”
Failing to make much of an impact when seventh in his racing debut in early spring, Authoritarian has made huge inroads over his five starts this time in and amazingly failed to figure when sixth in a Donald maiden event only weeks prior to his St Leger triumph.
The more experienced runner having claimed one win and a further three minor place finishes through ten competitive starts, Berserk performed well amongst notable competition through a three start spring campaign; placing third behind the likes of Light Up Manhattan in the Beteasy Maiden Plate (1590m) most notably on September 21st.
Undoubtedly facing their biggest task to date should they accept into the 2015 SA Derby, Freedman’s stable mates look likely to face-off with the likes of the Robbie Laing-trained Cuban Fighter, who also appears primed for a competitive performance.
“He can stay and if we got over there and it was wet it would bring him into it,” Laing said of the three-year-old.
The 2015 SA Derby final field is due to be completed and released by midday, May 6th.
