Big kid shows promise

Trainer Tony McEvoy believes Sandown winner Friedensberg has the makings of a quality racetrack performer.

He was speaking after the four-year-old showed great courage to score a photo-finish win in the Blue Star Print Group Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) on Wednesday, November 28.

Ridden by Andrew Mallyon, Friedensberg ($5.50) stalled off Nothin’ Leica High ($11) to score a half-head win with El Questro ($8), a short neck away third.

“He thinks he’s a sprinter and we have to teach him to settle,” McEvoy said.

At Sandown, Friedensberg settled third off a good tempo before being urged to the lead by Mallyon with 200 metres left to travel and ran through the line strongly to hold off the late challenge of the runner up.

“Just looking at him you can see what a classic horse he is,” the trainer said.

“It has taken a while for him to work it out in his head, but he always has had the ability.

“We’ve got to get him to settle early in his races and get out over a bit of ground.

“The plan was to settle further back today but he pinged the start and put himself on the speed. Andrew (Mallyon) rode him really well considering the horse put himself closer to the lead than we wanted.

“When we get him to settle, you’ll seed a good horse.”

Jockey Andrew Mallyon was also complimentary.

“We had to hoped to ride him further back, but he put himself in the race and was tough on the line,” Mallyon said.

“He is still a big kid but when he furnishes out will make into a good horse.”