Aerodrome set for Queensland Winter Carnival campaign after Clarendon Stakes win at Hawkesbury

The Queensland winter carnival beckons for Aerodrome after the Michael Freedman two-year-old continued his winning ways in the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury.

Aerodrome was too good in the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury despite carrying topweight in the heavy conditions. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Trainer Michael Freedman has every reason to aim promising two-year-old Aerodrome at the Brisbane carnival after he maintained his perfect race record at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Aerodrome was burdened with 58.5kg topweight on the heavy track but showed his class taking out the $160,000 Clarendon Stakes (1400m).

Freedman, a master trainer of two-year-olds, said Aerodrome will be aimed at Eagle Farm’s two feature juvenile races, the Group 2 $1m BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on May 31 and the Group 1 $1m JJ Atkins (1600m) on June 14.

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“I will see how he pulls up but all going well we will look at Brisbane now for Aerodrome,’’ Freedman said.

“There’s a month to the Sires’ but he won’t need to race again although if he needs it I might give him a barrier trial.

“Then we can look at the JJ Atkins as well because I don’t think 1600m will be any issue.

“The best part about both of Aerodrome’s wins have been his last 200m – he has been very strong through the line.’’

✈️ Aerodrome flies to remain unbeaten and take the Clarendon Stakes at @hawkesburyrc!@MFreedmanRacing | @Reganbaylisspic.twitter.com/1ZPtEmgZSe

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025

Aerodrome ($2.10) favourite, the topical tip at the Hawkesbury stand-alone given the close proximity of the Royal Australian Air Force base at Richmond, was the immediate chaser of leader Hereward ($41) through the race wearing his brave rival down to win by three-quarters of a length with a similar margin to Zebra Finch ($12).

Jockey Regan Bayliss described Aerodrome as a “beautiful horse who just keeps getting better and better”.

“He certainly knows where the winning post is,’’ Bayliss said.

“I’m not sure the Heavy 8 was to his complete liking as he has such a nice action but, as he does, he found a way to win.

“I have no problem with him running a strong mile (1600m). I could hardly pull him up after the post. He has a bright future.’’

Regan Bayliss returns to scale aboard Aerodrome after winning the Clarendon Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

The Clarendon Stakes is pushing for Group or Listed status with Aerodrome joining an honour roll that includes Group 1 winners Zardozi and Zoustar.

Aerodrome continues Freedman’s successful season with his two-year-old team highlighted by Marhoona’s Golden Slipper triumph, giving the trainer his second win in the world’s richest two-year-old race after Stay Inside won in 2021.

A $190,000 Inglis Easter Sale graduate, Aerodrome is a son of first-season sire sensation, Ole Kirk, himself the winner of the 2020 Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas Group 1 double.

Ole Kirk, who stands at Vinery Stud, is represented by his first crop to race this season and already has 10 individual winners including four stakes winners of five stakes races for earnings of nearly $3 million to be leading first-season sire in all four categories.

His fee for the upcoming breeding season has increased from $55,000 to $99,000 (inc. GST).

Freedman took particular satisfaction winning for Aerodrome’s ownership groups that includes Sean Dyson, who works in the mining industry, and is becoming a significant investor in the sport.

Originally published as Aerodrome set for Queensland Winter Carnival campaign after Clarendon Stakes win at Hawkesbury