Exciting three-year-old following a classic blueprint

Progressive three-year-old Wymark will be out to produce a repeat of his record-breaking last start performance at Rosehill on Saturday.

Wymark wins in track record time at Newcastle recently. Photo: Bradley Photos.

Randwick trainer Michael Freedman hopes his progressive three-year-old Wymark can follow in the footsteps of last year’s Australian Derby winner Major Beel in the coming weeks.

Wymark, like Major Beel is a son of legendary Kiwi-based stallion Savabeel, and on Saturday his Group racing credentials will be tested at Rosehill.

“Major Beel ran fourth in this race then ran second in the Tulloch before he won the (Australian) Derby so he’s on the Major Beel prep,” Freedman said.

“I guess after Saturday we’ll know a bit more as to which way we’ll head with him.

“My view is if he runs well on Saturday, he’ll go to the Tulloch (Stakes) two weeks later and then go from there.”

Wymark has been a work in progress since making his debut in a two-year-old maiden on the first of February last year.

“You go back to his first start as a two-year-old and he was probably a bit unlucky behind Militarize at Canterbury but then he lost his way a little bit, but he was a Savabeel colt and that can happen,” Freedman said.

“We gelded him before this preparation and since he’s come back, his form has been exemplary.

“He raced without luck early in the preparation but as we’ve stepped him up in trip he’s appreciated it and is starting to show what he’s capable of.

“It was only a midway class one and maiden plate the other day, but it was the way he went about his business that impressed me and the times supported what the win looked like.

“He’s improving as his races are stretching out.”

Wymark set a new track record for the Newcastle 1850m trip when winning his last start by a whopping 9-1/4 lengths and on Saturday he is joined by other three-year-olds Glad You Think So and Sunlord against the older horses in the Quayclean Benchmark 78 Handicap (1900m).

“I’m rapt with how the horse is going and from Tommy’s (Berry) feedback after riding him earlier this week suggests he seems to have gone on from his last run,” Freedman said.

Tommy Berry rides Wymark on Saturday and the horse is the $2.70 favourite.
Meanwhile, Major Beel resumes on Friday night in the $300,000 Pakenham Cup (2500m) after winning three hurdle trials over the past six weeks in emphatic fashion.

Originally published as Exciting three-year-old following a classic blueprint