Godolphin kicks off new training era with trial victories for Michael Freedman

Godolphin’s life after James Cummings got off to a winning start at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Tuesday morning.

Polyglot won a trial for Michael Freedman at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday. Photo: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Godolphin’s life after James Cummings got off to a winning start at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Tuesday morning.

Randwick trainer Michael Freedman won two trials for the blue army with new additions to his yard – Polyglot and Ohope.

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“They have a depth of a lot of nice horses, and these are the first couple they sent to me in the changeover,” Freedman said.

“Polyglot has pretty good, exposed form. They haven’t rushed him, he’s been given all the time in the world so hopefully we’ll be the beneficiary of that.

“He seems to have come back in nice order and is ready to go in the next couple of weeks.

“I spoke to James about Ohope the other week and he said he’s always given a good impression, just taken a bit of time.

“He still did a few little things wrong today, but he has his share of ability.”

Chris Waller also trialled a couple of his Godolphin recruits with quality mare Commemorative producing an eye-catching third while her stablemate Burma Star also rounded out the placings in his trial.

1⃣ Spring Lee
2⃣ General Salute
3⃣ Commemorative

An all the way win for the @BBakerRacing mare in a 900m trial at Rosehill on Tuesday. Also trialling were Anisette, Gatsby's and Powers Of Opal. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/92j5jZgUuH

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 28, 2025

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Meanwhile, Freedman revealed Golden Slipper winner Marhoona was likely to bypass the Silver Shadow Stakes in August with the trainer leaning to the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 9 a likely starting point.

“She’s coming along slowly,” he said.

“I’ll probably let the Silver Shadow go being set weights and penalties.

“Being a Group 1 winner, she would get a three-kilo penalty in that so I think we will wait and kick her off in the Furious at set weights.

“She’s grown, strengthened and seems good.

“She’ll either have her first trial next Tuesday at Randwick or there are sets at Warwick Farm and Rosehill the Friday and Monday after that. We’ve got a bit of time so we’re not in a rush.”

Marhoona (green, white silks) wins the 2025 Golden Slipper. Picture: Bradley Photos

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Sydney’s first Stakes race of the new season is the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9 and an emphatic trial win on Tuesday has Bjorn Baker giving thought to an ambitious first-up assault with his progressive mare Perfumist.

The rising four-year-old was trialling for the second time and she never gave her opposition a look in, leading throughout to score by 9-1/4 lengths from her Sydney Cup-winning stablemate Arapaho and The Metropolitan winner Land Legend in a 1000m course proper trial.

“I know they were stayers behind her but she looked pretty good to the eye,” Baker said.

“My original plan was to kick her off in a Benchmark 88 over 1200m on August 16 but more and more I’m thinking about giving her a shot in the Missile seven days prior.

“She’s a mare without black-type, it’s a Group 2 and it might be worth having a throw at the stumps being so early in the season.”

"This is going to be an exhibition."

Easy work for @BBakerRacing mare Perfumist as she wins a 1000m Rosehill trial on Tuesday over Group 1 winners Arapaho and Land Legend. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/fuizReB8Da

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 28, 2025

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Baker was also pleased with the first trial performance of his three-time winning and Group 1-placed filly Within The Law.

One horse that will be lining up in the Missile Stakes (1200m) is the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained General Salute which finished second in his 900m trial.

“I’m really happy with how he is going,” Ryan said.

“He trialled terrific, action was great, looks well and is strong than he’s ever been.

“I’m really looking forward to his next run. I think he’s really going well at the moment.”

Ryan also indicated his talented new season three-year-olds Skyhook and Blitzburg will represent the stable in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16.

Blitzburg won a trial on Tuesday while Skyhook finished second.

Originally published as Godolphin kicks off new training era with trial victories for Michael Freedman