Trainer Sam Freedman has found it hard to split Earth God and Golden Warrior going into the Next Generations Sprinters Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The exciting colts, both last start winners, face stiff opposition in Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly I Found You, a short-priced $1.55 favourite with TAB.
“They’re both in good form (Earth God and Golden Warrior), the Snowden horse looks pretty handy,” Freedman said.
“Both of ours won well last start, Golden Warrior won at 1400m, probably wasn’t really strong on the line so we were happy to come back in trip.
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“Earth God has got very good ability, but he’s a colt and thinks about things a little bit.
“The other horse is a colt but a bit more genuine about things, I think if Earth God turns up and puts in like he did last time he’ll be the better of the two, but probably hard to split them.”
Earth God is a $6.50 chance with TAB from Golden Warrior ($7.50), a Ballarat and Sandown winner the past two starts.
Earth God placed third on debut behind Interest Point and Blue Renegade at Caulfield.
Freedman, who trains in partnership with father Anthony, dropped the Written Tycoon colt back to a Geelong maiden and duly saluted by 3.3 lengths hard held.
“We put the blinkers on first start, he trialled well in them, and he ran well in that Caulfield race but he ran on fear the first half of the race, he still stuck on OK,” Freedman said.
“With blinkers off he was a little bit more wayward (Geelong), he was probably lucky he had the rail.
“Initially we weren’t going to run him down the straight because I thought it could bring him undone, he could get lost and he still might, but he worked really well Tuesday.
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“If he takes that to the races he’ll be hard to beat, but I wouldn’t be surprised whichever way he decides to do.”
Meanwhile, Henlein, who placed third at Flemington a fortnight ago, is being freshened with dressage before a Spring Champion-aimed campaign.
“We nearly were going to nominate him and run Saturday but we’ll probably head towards the Spring Champion and work back from there,” Freedman said.
“He’s probably not a Caulfield Guineas horse but he might be a Spring Champion/Victoria Derby horse, bred to be anyway.”
Freedman backed Green Fly to “turn the tables” on Munhamek in the Winter Championship Final at Flemington on Saturday.
Green Fly placed sixth behind Munhamek, beaten 2.8 lengths, in the Swan Hill Cup last start.
“He could turn the tables on Munhamek, I think he can, he’s got a soft draw,” Freedman said.
“He’s not great out of the barriers, so he’s going to need a luck … this has been his grand final for the prep.”
Originally published as Co-trainer Sam Freedman struggling to separate Earth God and Golden Warrior ahead of Saturday’s Next Generations at Flemington