Freedman filly ready to fly in Queensland Oaks

By Mandy Cottell and Mathew Toogood  

Richard and Will Freedman saddle up two runners in the fillies’ classic at Eagle Farm.

A stunning last start win prompted connections of Let's Fly to pay a late nomination fee for the Queensland Oaks.

Now they are banking on the nous of jockey Craig Williams to help her repeat the dose.

The filly demolished her rivals by almost six lengths on a heavy track at Randwick last month and while the fine weather in Brisbane won't deliver those conditions on Saturday, co-trainer Will Freedman expected another competitive performance, provided she could get the right run.

"It was a little surprising to win in that fashion. We knew she was in decent form, but she really elevated herself last start and we have learned the key to her is making sure she's not too fresh," Will Freedman said.

"She just needs to be able to amble across to be on-speed at her own rate. She doesn't want to be stoked up too early and she will run well if she gets the right ride.

"She has got to be nice and relaxed and if she is relaxed, then she's got good upper-end ability."

While Will Freedman wasn't anticipating Let's Fly to be as dominant as she was at Randwick, she had always shown her trainers good ability and won her maiden by almost five lengths.

It earned her a start in last year's Group 1 Thousand Guineas and while that proved a bridge too far at the time, it reflected the regard in which she was held.

"We ran her in the Thousand Guineas because we had a good opinion of her," Will Freedman said.

"She is going to keep maturing as a four and five-year-old but she's in a rich vein of form right now."

Stablemate Pleasure Artist will also take her place in the Queensland Oaks.

Her recent form appears below par on paper, but Will Freedman says she has had excuses and she does boast strong formlines from last spring, including a Listed placing and a fifth behind star filly Treasurethe Moment in the VRC Oaks.

"Her last run was an improvement. She's had a bit of a muddled prep and she has been a victim of bad luck," Will Freedman said.

"We will ride her a bit quieter in the Oaks. Cejay Graham will ride her. She has been doing the work on her and she's happy with her.

"She will definitely run out 2200 metres, that's for sure, and if you do that you beat half the field home."

Meanwhile, arguably one of the better named horses racing at Randwick on Saturday, Miss Kim Kar also has her share of ability and another win will put her in the mix for a winter carnival trip to Queensland.

The three-year-old is out of Kardashing and the filly's name is a reference to American media star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian.

Trainer Bjorn Baker isn't sure if his wife and part-owner Andrea deserves any of the credit for the clever moniker, but he is happy her connections are having a fun ride with the filly who has won half of her eight starts.

"I don't know who named her, but she is well named," Baker said.

"It's a female syndicate and they're having a great time at the moment so hopefully that can continue."

After ending her last campaign with a 1550 metre win at Canterbury, Miss Kim Kar returned with two minor placings before unleashing a powerful finish to score over 1400 metres on a heavy track at Randwick last start.

She is expected to strike similar conditions at the same course and Baker believes she is looking for the journey.

"She is fourth-up at the mile so she looks really well suited," Baker said.

"From the gate (barrier six) we will be able to put her where she's comfortable.

"She is a promising filly. She's four from eight so she is going the right way.

"She's not overly big but she is all heart, very genuine and we love taking horses to the races like that."

Miss Kim Kar was a $3.20 favourite on Thursday and Baker confirmed the filly would be considered for a trip north should she perform to expectations.

"If she happens to go well we could possibly look at some races up in Queensland," he said.

"She is a filly that has continued to improve with every start she has had."