Warning will be no pushover for Spanish Mission in the Zipping Classic

Team Freedman has tough stayer Warning primed to upset dominant favourite Spanish Mission in the Group 2 Zipping Classic

Warning winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington on Stakes Day. Picture: Racing Photos

Spanish Mission will need to run past Warning to win Saturday‘s $750,000 Group 2 Herald Sun Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield.

Warning led all the way to claim the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on Stakes Day at Flemington and co-trainer Sam Freedman indicated similar tactics will be deployed on Saturday.

Spanish Mission, who ran a gallant third in the Melbourne Cup, has been a firm $1.50 favourite with TAB for the Zipping Classic – in from $1.60 when markets opened on Wednesday.

Warning equally has not budged as a $5 second elect.

“I’d definitely say Spanish Mission has got the form, I think the market might have it (right),” Freedman said.

“The Melbourne Cup can be quite taxing, seen plenty of imports run a very good race first-up off the plane and then they can sometimes regress.

“But look, if that horse (Spanish Mission) turns up at his best well, then we probably are racing for second.

“Our horse is in terrific form, we couldn’t be happier with him, and we’re there to give him a run for his money.”

After a brilliant three-year-old spring, culminating in Group 1 Victoria Derby victory, Warning found the rise class, competing against Australia‘s best stayers, a steep learning curve.

A rating slide, allowing Warning to compete in lesser calibre races, combined with a European-style rolling campaign has seemingly brought the best out of the Declaration Of War gelding.

Warning has effectively been “in work” since pulling up with an issue from the Australian Cup in March.

Warning led all the way in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

A breakthrough win in Queensland in May – Warning’s first since November 2019 – and “working holiday” subsequently bolstered the tank further.

“These stayers take a little while to get them fit and then you get them fit and tip them out and start from scratch again and you’ve got to build up their fitness,” Freedman said.

“Sometimes, as these stayers get a bit older their actions get better the deeper into a preparation.

“It’d be a little bit like an older footballer who has a season off and doesn’t do anything, it’s going to take a long time to get back to their best the next season.

“Particularly with older horses, we think it‘s pretty important to keep them active and keep them moving, so we have been doing that with a few of our stayers.

“It’s a testament to the horse … not many Derby winners get better as they get older and I think he probably is, he’s really in career best form probably at the moment.

“Following this we‘re inclined to take him to Queensland for the Magic Millions Stayers Cup.”

Freedman, who trains in partnership with father Anthony, has a strong team engaged at Caulfield, including debutant Moko, speedster Yulong Command and Irish import Sinawann.

While Moko and Yulong Command will benefit from respective experiences, Freedman expects an improved performance from Sinawann on Saturday.

The son of Kingman, who boasts solid international stakes form, finished an excusable sixth at his stable debut on Stakes Day.

“We were a little disappointed straight after but he got his tongue over the bit and blew right out late,” Freedman said.

“He’s had a lot of work since then … he jumped out really well with the tongue tie on so we’re expecting a really improved run from him.”

Originally published as Warning will be no pushover for Spanish Mission in the Zipping Classic