Lee Freedman got more than he bargained for at Calculation’s first start on September 21.
On his winning barrier trial leading up to his Kranji debut in a Restricted Maiden race over 1100m, the champion trainer would have been happy if the Street Boss three-year-old could win some prizemoney first-up – with the win probably for another day.
The early trackwork form was sound, but even if he was presented in faultless order, a major hurdle rose in the way – Galvarino. The Alwin Tan-trained gelding looked hard to beat after his cracking second to Lim’s Lightning in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) two months earlier.
The $7 hotpot, however, decided he would rather take a closer look at the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) as he went scraping paint on the outside rails, virtually putting himself out of the race.
With Galvarino shooting himself in the hoof – he did run on late for a distant seventh - the race was laid wide open for Calculation who went on to make that race his own without asking too many questions. He bolted in by three and a quarter lengths.
While such wins can be hollow, Freedman for one didn’t mind, and certainly didn’t mind the way that first race under the belt has given the Thai-owned newcomer a few handy pointers about the Kranji track.
Freedman is hoping that first educational tour can only put him in good stead for his second start in Sunday’s $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 1100m.
“I was really pleased with the way he ran at his debut. We thought Alwin’s horse would be hard to beat, but he was gone off the track, and we won the race,” said the Australian handler.
“We were lucky in a way, but the horse seems to have learned something from it.
“He has stayed more or less at the same level. He’s a pretty straightforward horse to train, but he sure has some ability.
“Those Street Bosses seem to be doing well, both here and in Hong Kong.”
With Moor currently serving a two-day suspension for careless riding, Freedman has handed the ride on Calculation to Michael Rodd.
“Michael had a sit the other day and was very happy with him,” said Freedman.
Rodd is certainly the go-to man these days going with his recent white-hot form that saw him chalk up 10 wins in two weeks of riding, and leapfrog to the second place (56 winners), only one winner off long-time leader Vlad Duric (57 winners).
Calculation has drawn barrier No 3 and is likely to start at really short odds against an opposition made up of the likes of Ares, Pioneer Seven and Star Genius.
