Co-trainer Will Freedman is optimistic that a seven-day back-up will prove effective for the talented colt Genesis Runner, who is still smarting from a narrow defeat in the Dulcify Stakes.
The three-year-old went down by a short half-head to Wonka, and both are slated to re-enter the fray in Saturday’s Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill, with the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) two weeks later as a potential target.
While Freedman would have preferred to be entering the weekend with a stakes win under his belt, he has been encouraged by the three-year-old’s recovery from his recent run.
“It’s frustrating, but onto the next,” Freedman stated about the Dulcify loss. “Your hand is slightly forced because the alternative is to go three weeks between runs, and then go up four hundred metres (in distance). If you feel like you’ve got an athletic horse that doesn’t need the run then great, you can wait the three weeks. But for a horse like him that needs a bit of racing to hit peak fitness, the back-up was a pretty straightforward answer, and the fact he pulled up so well and was bucking and carrying on Monday morning sealed the deal.”
Saturday’s race will be the first time Genesis Runner has competed on a seven-day turnaround. Freedman is hopeful this approach will suit the colt, described as a “gross-doing” type.
A minor equipment alteration has been made, with blinkers swapped for visors, following the advice of jockey Chad Schofield.
“Chad felt, with the blinkers, he lost sight of the bunny a little bit and gave Wonka the ability to then go ahead, and he kicked late again,” Freedman explained. “It’s just to give him that slight bit of visibility so he doesn’t switch off in thinking his job is done.”
With Concrete Storm scratched, the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) will field 11 runners. The undefeated Proxima Dea is the $4 favourite, aiming to become only the second filly to win after Constant Flight in 1993.
Genesis Runner is priced at $4.60 in early calculations.
Nine horses have achieved the Gloaming-Spring Champion Stakes double in the past 30 years, with El Castello being the most recent in 2024.
Stablemate Magnatear will also represent the yard in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m), serving as his final lead-up to The Big Dance (1600m) on Melbourne Cup day.
“He likes Rosehill, so he’ll roll forward and do his thing. He’s as genuine as they come, but it’s a hot field,” Freedman commented. “He’ll have two-and-a-half weeks into the Big Dance. This is a $1.5 million race, it’s not taken lightly, but I think he’ll be better with another run under his belt and then he should be ready to fire.”
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