Racing
San Giovanni out to become a Spring Champion
San Giovanni will chase Group 1 honours in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
Trainer Michael Freedman is convinced San Giovanni will relish the rise in distance when he steps out in a Group 1 contest at Randwick.
The Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on Saturday will be San Giovanni's fourth start of his campaign, and potentially last, with an autumn campaign in mind.
A late comer to the racing scene, San Giovanni did not start racing until late in his two-year-old season, going bang-bang, winning at Newcastle and Kembla Grange at his first two starts in July.
Freshened after those two victories, San Giovanni returned in Stakes company at Rosehill on September 14, finishing well back in the Ming Dynasty Stakes (1400m).
Stepping up to 1800m at his past two starts, San Giovanni has finished third on each occasion, both times at Rosehill, the most recent coming in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes on October 11, finishing behind Shangri La Boy and The Pearls, both opponents on Saturday.
Freedman liked what he saw from San Giovanni at his most recent outing and is looking forward to trying him over the 2000m on Saturday.
"He ran great in the Gloaming last time," Freedman said.
"He was really strong through the line. To me he shaped as though he's going to really relish the 2000 metres."
Freedman has squashed any thoughts of a trip to Melbourne the following week for a potential start in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
Since the Spring Champion Stakes was transferred from its earlier spring date to its current timeslot in 2022, two winners – Sharp 'N' Smart and El Castello – have gone on to run the following week at Flemington.
Sharp 'N' Smart finished second to Manzoice while El Castello finished fifth to Goldrush Guru.
"I'm not a huge fan of the 2500 metres of the Derby for the three-year-olds at this time of the year," Freedman said.
"I think if he can run well on Saturday, then I think we'd probably pull the pin, put him away, and look to the autumn with him.
"He's come a long way in a relatively short space of time, so I think he might have a future as a stayer."
The Spring Champion Stakes has attracted a field of 14 plus one emergency.
San Giovanni has drawn barrier five and will be ridden by Andrew Adkins who has been aboard the three-year-old in all three outings this campaign.
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