Richard Freedman will look to become the first Australian-based trainer to win a group 1 in the US as he takes Sarrasin to the Saratoga meeting in August and then possibly the Breeders Cup.
Sarrasin is back in work at Rosehill after running fifth in Galio Chops Ranvet Stakes during the autumn carnival, but he will not have another start in Australia with the meeting in upstate New York to be his swansong.
“I found some nice races for him in the States and the owners were good enough to say if he goes they want me to train,” Freedman said. “It would be a great adventure for the horse and myself and I would be confident he would perform over there.
“He would race on turf and at staying trips and they are not the strongest stakes races in the world.
“There are not a lot of options for staying horses late in the season in Australia and I would see this as his last preparation. If he could win a group 1 there is the chance of him staying in the work for a Breeders Cup Turf over 2400m.”
Sarrasin, a six-year-old, has only had the nine starts his career in France where he was a listed winner over 1800 metres at Longchamp, before coming to Australia, where he ran third to Sense Of Occasion in the Villiers Stakes in 2016.
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He has been plagued by injury problems, only having the four starts, and bled in the Chelmsford Stakes last year, after which he was transferred to the Freedman stable.
“He is in really good nick at the moment and, provided everything goes to plan, we will have our first US runner,” Freedman said. “It is a case of keeping him ticking over until he leaves.”
Sarrasin will leave Australia at the end of June and do his quarantine in New York before being based and racing at Saratoga. His main targets will be the group 2 Bowling Green Stakes over 2200m on July 28 before running in the Sword Dancer Invitational over 2400m on Travers Day on August 25.
“I think he will respond to racing over there and if he was to measure up it might get him a stud deal somewhere in the world,” Freedman said.
The Sword Dancer carries a "win and you're in" place in the Breeders' Cup Turf later in the year. Sarrasin heading to the Saratoga has been welcomed by the Fasig-Tipton, which runs a sale that coincides with the meeting.
"It is the centre of racing in America at the time and to have an Australian runner will only add the interest," Fasig-Tipton's Australian representative Andrew Williams said.
Meanwhile, stewards adjourned an inquiry into Kerrin McEvoy's handling of $3.30 favourite Federation in the opening race at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Federation jumped to the front but McEvoy looked to drop in behind on him and ended up being posted three-wide without cover, following instructions not to be too aggressive on the two-year-old. Federation never threaten and finished fourth behind Ms Rodarte.
Acting chairman of stewards Philip Dingwall said stewards were "not comfortable with [McEvoy's] evidence" and found his tactics "curious".
The matter will continue.
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Racing writer for The Sydney Morning Herald
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