“Freakish” Freda Rocks A Good Problem To Have

MARIO Briganti has labelled his near record Cranbourne maiden winner Freda Rocks as "a good problem to have".

On Wednesday night the daughter of Fernando Bale and Red Rocks pulverized her opposition to score by 16 ½ lengths in a sizzling 29.62, the time just outside It's A Blaze's 29.54 track record.

But while the performance was something to behold, it was the regally bred bitch's tenth attempt at cracking her maiden status, much to the frustration of Briganti.

"She's as freakish as they come but the best way to describe her is enigmatic," Briganti said.

"I trialled her at Cranbourne last week and she went 29.80 so the time wasn't a huge surprise. It was just good to see her finally put it all together in a race.

"I'm hoping she's turned the corner now and delivers on her early promise but with her it's really a week to week thing. She had a season a few months back and it's matured her."

Next week Freda Rocks will tackle the GRV Vic Bred Maiden Final (520m) before Briganti decides what course of action to take with his hugely gifted chaser.

"I'm in two minds at the moment with what to do," Briganti said.

"If she stays she could be absolutely anything, it's just what's going on above the shoulders with her.

"The Launching Pad is an option – she's trialled 29.30 at Sandown and I've got no doubt she could run low 29 seconds but in sprints she's going to be relying on luck and box draws.

"I'll get through next week's final first and decide from there. There have been times I've thought about whether it's worth even racing her because she's that fast.

"Later on she'll make a great mum. She could go on and be a star and win group 1s or be retired in a few weeks. Neither would really surprise me.

"To give you an idea at her start before over 595 metres at Sandown I thought she'd win and run 33.70 or even 33.60 off her trial sections but she got knocked about and missed a place.

“There's no doubt she's been disappointing … in pre-training she was running 23.70 at Bendigo. I've always had a big opinion of her.”

Such is Freda Rocks' dominance on the clock she will take more than a second time advantage into next week's maiden finale where she's drawn box five.

"If she does everything right she can give the record a nudge," Briganti said.

"There was a head wind into the straight Wednesday which cost her a bit. But would I back her at $1.20 or even $2? No – because she's just too enigmatic, especially from box five.

"It is just a week at a time with her. But a race like the Shootout or Speed Star would be ideal for her."

Meanwhile, Briganti declared his Group 1 Bold Trease winner Manila Knight is on the comeback trail but will miss the fast approaching Australian Cup carnival.

"I had him set for the Sale Cup and he was flying but pulled up lame at his last trial going into the series," Briganti said.

"He's on the way back now but he won't be ready for any of the big races coming up.

"But to give you an idea as good as Manila Knight is Freda Rocks would pick him up and carry him. She's got an engine as big as anything I've ever had.”