Improving Morphettville track to enhance the chances of Freedman’s SA Derby duo

An improving Morphettville track will only enhance the chances of Anthony Freedman’s pair of Declarationofheart and Ridgewood Drive in Saturday’s $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m). But he is leaning to one ahead of the other.

Declarationofheart at Morphettville. Picture: Akins Photography

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AN improving Morphettville track will only enhance the chances of Anthony Freedman’s pair of Declarationofheart and Ridgewood Drive in Saturday’s $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m).

Freedman’s son, foreman Sam, said he was leaning towards Ridgewood Drive over Chairman’s Stakes winner Declarationofheart as the pick of the pair after an impressive Flemington win last weekend.

“I think Ridgewood Drive is a bit of a thinker and Declarationofheart seems to put in 100 per cent every time he goes around. If they both turn up I’d probably lean towards Ridgewood Drive,’’ Freedman said on RSN radio.

“Declarationofheart failed on that heavy track in Sydney and that would be a real question mark with him.

Jockey Damien Thornton rides Ridgewood Drive to victory at Flemington. Picture: AAP Image/George Salpigtidis

“Ridgewood Drive has never really seen it. Being by Sebring they tend to handle it so hopefully he can get through it,’’ he said.

Morphettville track manager Ian Ricardo said on Friday morning he was confident in an improving Morphettville track having seen the last of the rain ahead of the feature.

“It’s just into the Soft 7 range, we’re really happy,’’ Ricardo said.

“The track has received 14ml of rain in past 24 hours, about 25ml in the last seven days and we’ve received about 55ml in the last nine days … We definitely needed it

“The weather is on the improve, hopefully we’ve seen the last of the showers and the wind picking up we really help dry this track out,’’ he said.

Freedman said Ridgewood Drive has always been a horse with ability who has come into his own as he’s matured and stepped out in distance.

Declarationofheart at Morphettville Picture: Akins Photography

“He’s taken time, gelding him after his two-year-old career really made him. He’s been an out and out stayer form day one,’’ Freedman added.

“The Port Adelaide Guineas run was pretty good, he was caught wide most of the way and kept finding the line.

“We were fairly confident he would run a big race (last time). We probably didn’t expect him to win as easily as he did but he’s always shown talent,’’ he said.

Freedman said he hoped the pair would both settle just behind the speed.

“I’d say we’d look to be midfield,’’ Freedman said.

“You don’t really want to stuck behind those horses aren’t going to stay,’’ he said.

SA’s leading trainer Tony McEvoy, who has three runners in the feature, said on form the Phillip Stokes-trained Mr Quickie was clearly the horse to beat.

“Mr Quickie is just a winner,’’ McEvoy said.

“If he runs the trip he’s the horse to beat,’’ he said.