Trainers Richard and Will Freedman will consider paying the $44,000 late entry fee for Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Derby with Tuesday’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes winner three-year-old gelding Pocketing (Grunt {NZ}) after he proved the toughest in the 2000-metre contest. Pocketing came down the centre of the track, while second-placed Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained gelding Firm Agreement (Yes Yes Yes) had a rails ride from Tyler Schiller with only 0.05l separating the two on the line. In third was John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) who also swooped late to finish 0.18l from the leaders. Both second and third will likely head to the Derby.
“There is a decision to make today. I will be guided by Josh (Parr) a bit. He has gone from 1600 to 2000 so he was probably entitled to not be savaging the line. We will see how he pulls up. Fortunately, he’s at home so he is only going across the road to go back to his box,” said Will Freedman.
“The four-day back-up I’m not too concerned about. It’s probably whether he stays 2400 but do many of them? Probably not.”
A last start winner, Pocketing took his record to four wins from nine starts with earnings over $290,000. Owned by Yulong, it was Pocketing’s first stakes win, and he becomes the third stakes winner for Yulong sire Grunt (NZ). Yulong purchased his unraced dam Pickpocket (High Chaparral {IRE}) for $12,000, and Pocketing is her second foal, while her third foal is 2-year-old colt Graphic Sight (Lucky Vega {IRE}) who ran third on debut in December. Pickpocket had a full brother to Pocketing in 2024.
Pocketing’s fourth dam is Jesmond Lass (Lunchtime {GB}) who produced the Gr.1-winning full siblings Canny Lass (Bletchingly) and Canny Lad, and founded a dynasty which includes the stallions Bivouac, Sepoy, Ghibellines, and Encryption.
Written for TTRAusNZ
