Statistics show it’s Time To Boogie for Michael Freedman at Randwick

Trainer Michael Freedman is striking at an amazing 42.9 per cent with first-up runners this season … and he can improve that rate further at his home track on Saturday.

Time To Boogie wins at Randwick last preparation. Picture: Bradley Photos

Randwick trainer Michael Freedman is a trainer to watch heading into 2024 and he heads to his home track meeting on Saturday with a small but select team.

Freedman was the star of the show at Wednesday’s Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic meeting when his Snitzel colt Highness stormed home to book his place in the $3 million January feature on the Gold Coast.

Freedman, who’s yet to have a Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner, said the colt won’t run again before the January 13 assignment.

“There’s two trial options for him,” Freedman said.

“Rosehill on the 29th of December or Warwick Farm on the 2nd of January.

“I really like that colt. He should eat up 1200 and he’s going to enjoy a bigger track than Wyong.”

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@TommyBerry21 with a clutch finish for @mmsnippets@WyongRaceClub 2yo Classic and @Chantellebuckle's pick of the yard Highness! pic.twitter.com/MBz0dQy5dR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 13, 2023

On Saturday at Randwick, Time To Boogie kicks off his latest campaign in a Benchmark 78 over 1000m and bookmakers regard the gelding as the horse to beat.

This season, Freedman is striking at an amazing 42.9 per cent with first-up runners.

“I think he’s still quite progressive,” he said. “This is a nice first-up option for him.

“He’s very genuine so from the draw I’d expect him to possie up somewhere on speed and I think he will run well.”

Randwick trainer Michael Freedman. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Freedman originally had Time To Boogie pigeonholed “as a provincial, maybe midweek-type horse” but the four-year-old son of Sooboog has continued to meet the challenges his trainer has put in front of him.

“In the past six to 12 months, he’s come on quite significantly,” he said.

“The form around him last preparation is excellent and this is a good time of the year for him.”

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Time To Boogie danced his way into the #PuntersIntelligence Saturday Salute after his 3 length win in Race 5 at Randwick!@MFreedmanRacing@Darby_Racingpic.twitter.com/XXt0MM9hF9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 18, 2023

The stable’s other runner, Excellent Proposal, has a vastly different profile to Time To Boogie.

The former Hong Kong Group 1 winner has returned to his original trainer as a rising eight-year-old.

On Saturday, Excellent Proposal steps up to the mile, his most effective distance, and he’ll race in the blinkers for the first time since returning to Australia.

“When I had him early on, his best form was in the blinkers and a couple of his good Hong Kong performances were in the blinkers,” Freedman said.

“If he’d drawn a gate, I’d have had a bit of confidence he’s a top four finisher.

“He’s a seven-year-old now with a few miles on the clock but we’re hopeful we can still get him back to something like his best form and I thought the first-up run showed that’s not out of the question.”