LEE Freedman's decision two years ago to get some stable clients to buy tried horses in England and aim them at Australia's staying events had some promising results in its first year, but yesterday's results in two states showed there may be even better days to come, reports the Sunday Age.It says: A believer in the superior staying ability of European-trained horses having witnessed first hand their ability as the trainer of Makybe Diva, Freedman set about recruiting lightly raced stayers from

LEE Freedman's decision two years ago to get some stable clients to buy tried horses in England and aim them at Australia's staying events had some promising results in its first year, but yesterday's results in two states showed there may be even better days to come, reports the Sunday Age.

It says: A believer in the superior staying ability of European-trained horses having witnessed first hand their ability as the trainer of Makybe Diva, Freedman set about recruiting lightly raced stayers from England. He brought together a group of existing clients, called the Ball and Chain Syndicate, to race them.

In its first foray, the syndicate picked up five horses, four of whom have won races, including Sound Of Nature, who won the listed C. S. Hayes Cup at Morphettville yesterday. But, it was at Caulfield yesterday that the syndicate made it two wins in eight days after Above Average, a member of the syndicate's second group of horses, scored a last-stride win, to follow on from Fanjura, who scored a first-up win at the same track last Saturday.

''We concentrated on getting some higher-rated horses the second time around because it's too hard to get them up to the better races otherwise,'' Freedman said.

''It's been a very good concept and if we continue to have success, we will have to open it up to a few more people.''

Dwayne Dunn settled Above Average just behind the leaders, but the speed was only moderate and coming around the turn Above Average was under pressure as the field sprinted.

''I was going nowhere coming to the turn, just marking time, and when I gave him a few cuts of the whip, he didn't respond,'' Dunn said. ''He got a bit wayward at the furlong [200 metres], but I drove him hard the last bit and he found the line nice and strong.''

In a tight finish, Above Average ($4.40 into $3.90 equal favourite) had a short-head margin on Georgia's Boy, the other equal favourite, with the pacemaker Bird Of Fire ($4.40) a nose away third.

''They won't believe it in Europe when they hear he has won over a mile [1600 metres] on a firm track,'' a satisfied Freedman said after the race.