Sydney autumn carnival preparations have already begun for high-class filly Manaal, who has returned to work with trainer Michael Freedman ahead of another Group 1 bid.
The three-year-old was given a light spring, capturing the Furious Stakes (1200m) second-up before Freedman opted to send her to the paddock after she finished third in Autumn Glow’s Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) in September.
It had come on the back of a six-start two-year-old season, highlighted by her Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) win, and Freedman said Manaal had appreciated the lengthy break.
“I made the decision after the Tea Rose that she’d had a fairly busy two-year-old season and I thought we’d take the opportunity to give her a good spring spell,” Freedman said.
“We discussed it with her owner and decided it was a good time of year to give her a Tulloch Stakes decent break and bring her back for the autumn.”
The Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on March 1 is the logical short-term goal for Manaal, who Freedman says has furnished nicely.
“The natural target at this stage would be the Surround so we will build a program towards that,” he said.
“She is a big, strong girl now which is great. She had just over seven weeks off and she has come back in looking in terrific order.”
Freedman also confirmed Tulloch Stakes winner Wymark was back in training after sitting out the spring.
The son of Savabeel hasn’t been seen since his midfield effort in the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) in April, connections keen to give him a lengthy break after he raced through the summer and autumn last season.
“He had the whole spring off,” Freedman said.
“We decided to give him a long break because he had a fairly busy autumn himself. He has come back in good order.
“He will keep building towards being ready to race at the back end of January.”
Wymark emerged as a stayer of promise during the autumn, stringing together four consecutive wins culminating in his Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) triumph.
