Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman is contemplating whether to target Flemington for Tatakai Uta in a straight race or opt for a less competitive event.
Freedman acknowledges Tatakai Uta’s potential to become a city-class performer but expresses reservations about exposing the three-year-old to top-tier racing prematurely.
Tatakai Uta is slated to compete in the Rod Johnson Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday, though the anticipated presence of Sydney raider Ice Kool is a significant consideration for Freedman.
“The Sydney visitor looks exceptionally good and looks like it does a lot of things right, so it will be very hard to beat if it does come down here,” Freedman stated.
Having raced only three times, Tatakai Uta secured a second-place finish in maiden events at Donald and Bendigo before breaking through for his maiden victory at the Swan Hill Carnival earlier this month.
Despite being the heavily backed $1.36 favourite, Freedman noted that Tatakai Uta provided his backers with some tense moments before securing the win.
This victory was opportune, though Freedman is keen to avoid jeopardising the gelding’s development by rushing him into city company too soon.
“He’s a horse that has plenty of upside, but he’s just doing a couple of things wrong still,” Freedman commented.
“He was a short-priced favourite at Swan Hill and he did a few things wrong and probably gave punters a few nervous moments, but he’s shown us enough ability, and I think he will be a horse that gets to city level, but whether that’s now or later down the track.
“We’re a little bit hesitant while he’s learning whether he needs to take that step to town, so whether it’s now or whether we should be aiming for something softer, we shall see.
“Having said that, horses that are progressive in that three-year-old grade, you can really see them leap to a new level, but it’s a balancing act how much you raise the bar and how much that might destroy his confidence.
“It’s a little bit tricky.”
Should Tatakai Uta take on the Rod Johnson Handicap, punters can find competitive racing odds at leading Australian betting sites.