Freedman unveils more imports in pre-spring attack

WHILE most eyes will be turned to Sydney on Saturday for the Rosehill Guineas and the last lead-up races to the Golden Slipper, at Caulfield Lee Freedman will be rolling out a further three imports who will hopefully be part of his assault on the spring carnival, reports The Age.It says: After running Doctor Fremantle two weeks ago and then Fanjura, who won at his first Australian start last Saturday, Freedman plans to have another batch of his foreign legion make their Australian debuts in Satu

WHILE most eyes will be turned to Sydney on Saturday for the Rosehill Guineas and the last lead-up races to the Golden Slipper, at Caulfield Lee Freedman will be rolling out a further three imports who will hopefully be part of his assault on the spring carnival, reports The Age.

It says: After running Doctor Fremantle two weeks ago and then Fanjura, who won at his first Australian start last Saturday, Freedman plans to have another batch of his foreign legion make their Australian debuts in Saturday's Amounis Handicap.

''These horses arrive here late in the year and are ready to race in March, April and May. It really adds a different dimension to the post carnival racing here,'' Freedman said.

The Rye-based trainer said Above Average and Ajhar, who were purchased in England late last year along with Fanjura, were likely to have their first local runs along with Savarain, who is owned in the same interests as Speed Gifted.

''It's instant gratification I call it. Those syndicates are easy to sell if you can have a bit of quick success with them,'' Freedman said.

While Speed Gifted was an instant success last year, Savarain has been a long-term project having been diagnosed with a ''dicky tendon'' shortly after his arrival.

Freedman is likely to give Savarain and Above Average light autumn campaigns but said Ajhar is more likely to race on in the short term.

''Ajhar is probably more dour than the others and I think he will get up to 2400 metres pretty quickly. We might even look towards the Andrew Ramsden Stakes [3200m on May 5] for him.''