Trainer Lee Freedman will find out how fast royally-bred sprinter Master Of Design can go when he faces his most serious test in the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington.A $2.1 million yearling at the 2007 Australian Easter Sale, the son of Redoute's Choice and Urge To Merge has been slow to mature, but Freedman's patience to nurse him through "achy joints" looks set to pay off with him going in as favourite for the 1200m New Year's Day feature.The four-year-old is related to star mare Ty
Trainer Lee Freedman will find out how fast royally-bred sprinter Master Of Design can go when he faces his most serious test in the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington.
A $2.1 million yearling at the 2007 Australian Easter Sale, the son of Redoute's Choice and Urge To Merge has been slow to mature, but Freedman's patience to nurse him through "achy joints" looks set to pay off with him going in as favourite for the 1200m New Year's Day feature.
The four-year-old is related to star mare Typhoon Tracy as well as successful sires Towkay and Danasinga, and has won three of his five starts including his last two at Ballarat and Moonee Valley in dashing fashion.
Freedman said the Standish was a chance to get a better look at Master Of Design and assess his future prospects.
"He has been a bit of a trial for us on occasions but this preparation he has been fine," Freedman said.
He said the key had been focusing Master Of Design's training program away from his track at Rye and giving him plenty of time on nearby Safety Beach on the Mornington Peninsula.
"It seems to agree with him," Freedman said.
"The horse is at the peak of his form and probably peak of his fitness at the moment so we are happy to have a crack at this Group Three."
Freedman won the 2003 and 2005 Standish Handicaps with Super Impressive also and has Let Loushe as his second string in the $200,000 sprint at $21 with TAB Sportsbet.
Master Of Design is $3.20 favourite ahead of Beltrois and Keano, who are both $5, and veteran sprinter Royal Ida ($6).
Trainer Luke Oliver reassigned Royal Ida to the Standish after he drew wide in the Christmas Stakes and Damien Oliver was unable to ride him on Boxing Day because of commitments in Sydney.
The nine-year-old was brought out of retirement in the spring, after Mount Gambier car dealer Roy Button bought him and gave him to Oliver to train.
Oliver said the gelding, who has won 16 of his 52 starts and $637,000 in prizemoney, had freshened up magnificently since his last-start fourth to Sound Journey at Flemington on November 7 and could not be going any better.
"Damien (Oliver) trialled him two weeks ago and he went really good and he has been working the house down since," Luke Oliver said.
"It is not an overly-strong race and he is probably the class horse of the field."