Trainer Danny O’Brien dismisses concerns over Closer To Free’s limited racing background as the colt prepares for Victoria’s top two-year-old contest at Caulfield.
Closer To Free earned his spot in Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield with a strong debut success in a Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 7.
O’Brien acquired the colt after a promising barrier trial victory at Caulfield Heath nine days earlier, during which he was under the guidance of Adrian Corboy.
Since that initial triumph, O’Brien has noted progress in Closer To Free and remains unfazed by the colt’s second career start on Saturday.
The previous year’s Blue Diamond victor Devil Night also prevailed at his second outing, having placed runner-up in the Prelude a fortnight beforehand.
“The narrative around his trial was that he was wound up, but Adrian told me he was three or four weeks behind with him because he got cast in his box over Christmas and he missed a couple of weeks work,” O’Brien said.
“When he came to the trials here, he said there was a lot of improvement in the horse and when I saw him in the yard before the Prelude I thought ‘he’s right, you might need another gallop’, but he came out of it really well and will be finding a couple of lengths on Saturday on top of what he’s already shown.”
O’Brien expressed no worries regarding Closer To Free’s minimal prior race exposure before Saturday’s event.
“The profile of these two-year-old races has changed over the last 15 or 20 years,” O’Brien said.
“The two-year-olds are not having as many starts as they used to before Christmas and ultimately, they get one or two post-Christmas before running in the Blue Diamond and even the Golden Slipper.
“I don’t think that is a disadvantage. I know when Star Witness won it, it was only his third race start, one start in December, one start in January, and then into to the Diamond.”
O’Brien highlighted shifts in Australian breeding practices, noting less urgency to race young horses early compared to the past.
“When I first started in racing, there probably wasn’t the number of shuttle stallions standing,” O’Brien said.
“It was more the colonials, they were a bit hardier, a bit more get up get going early, whereas nearly every stallion in Australia now has some form of shuttle blood.
“There has been a gradual shift, so I don’t think there is any disadvantage and he has been very well educated and we can thank Adrian for that.
“He’s got a very natural brain and there will be no horse that will handle the parade better than him.
“He’s so relaxed.”
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