Freedom Rally ticks a lot of boxes in Group 2 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill

One of Tony Gollan’s stable stars looks to have found a suitable target in Sydney on Saturday after tangling with some of Australia’s best horses at weight-for-age in Melbourne.

Freedom Rally is dropping back from taking on Mr Brightside and co at Group 1 weight-for-age level to a Quality handicap – that’s a big tick.

Another tick is rising 100m in distance.

Yet another tick is going third-up into Saturday’s Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

Shame though about barrier 16.

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That’s the conundrum as Tony Gollan’s classy Queenslander diverts from racing against some of Australia’s best horses in Melbourne to taking on lesser opposition in the Harbour City on Saturday.

“It was always the idea to go to Sydney with him, because I thought the two weight-for-age races in Melbourne would toughen him up nicely,” Gollan said.

“Dropping back to handicaps is now ideal.

“I would love to win this and have a crack at the Doncaster with him.

“But we will worry about Saturday first

“Up in distance, back in handicap grade does look like a good recipe.”

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Freedom Rally will have to overcome a tough barrier in the Ajax Stakes on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

The winner of the Ajax gets a golden ticket into the Doncaster Mile and Gollan is convinced his five-year-old gelding wouldn’t be making up the numbers if he got there.

Last start he was only a couple of lengths off Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

Even last year, he showed he was a force to be reckoned with when finishing only 2½ lengths off I Wish I Win in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup.

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Freedom Tally is also familiar with Sydney, having finished a narrow runner-up behind Pericles in the $2m Five Diamonds at Rosehill last spring.

“The form around him is good,” Gollan said.

“Even if you look back to the Tramway Stakes in Sydney last year, the horse who beat him that day (Royal Patronage) won a Group 1 in Sydney last Saturday.

“He has certainly got the right form for a Group 2 handicap race like this.

“He is third-up and he really builds into his preparation nicely and he is going well.”

Tommy Berry will have the task of weaving some magic with Freedom Rally from the wide gate.

Freedom Rally has remained solid in betting at $11 in the Ajax, despite drawing wide.

In betting on the Doncaster Mile, Freedom Rally is currently a $51 chance.

The Queenslander has won seven of his 22 starts and has earned more than $1m in prizemoney.

Originally published as Freedom Rally ticks a lot of boxes in Group 2 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill