Trainer Jessica Harrington hoping for the ground to dry up at Newcastle so Steps To Freedom can perform well
Trainer Jessica Harrington is hoping for a fast ground in the John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on 30th June, 2012, which would aid her runner, Steps To Freedom, a great deal.
The son of Statue Of Liberty has not been able to deliver this season, but chances are that he will take it up a notch in this race, and down the victory over 2 miles and 19 yards.
The trainer is hoping that the ground dries out by the weekend, so the bay gelding can have a good race, she stated:
"We're a little bit ground dependent so we just want to know what is going to happen. The weather is very much up in the air everywhere."
The gelding, who was foaled by Dhakhirah, secured a solid third place finish in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on 20th May, 2012, where he was mounted by F.M. Berry, and lost the victory by 3 ¼ lengths to, Fame And Glory.
The handler reflected on this performance and told the media that:
"I was delighted with him at Navan. We just haven't had the ground since. Hopefully it will dry out."
Over the course of his career, the six-year-old has claimed six victories, which consist of two victories in the Group 2 category and one in Group 3.
Trainer Pat Phelan is having considerable doubts about running, Ermyn Lodge, especially if the surface of the track is soft.
He emphasised on the fact that the soft ground does not favour his runner, and chances are he would end up “damaging the horse mentally or physically.”
Regarding the brown gelding’s temperament, the trainer stated:
"I'd hate to ask him to go out there and make all on conditions less than would allow him to put his best foot forward.”
The son of Singspiel, out of mare Rosewood Belle, competed at Newmarket on 9th June, 2012, in the Fly London Southend To Dublin Levy Board Handicap, where he finished in fourteenth place.
The surface of the track had been labelled good to soft, and that might have something to do with the poor performance of the runner.
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