The Richard & Will Freedman-trained Pocketing ($9) has fended off all challengers to claim the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Tuesday afternoon, booking his ticket to the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) in four days’ time.
The son of Grunt was on deck for back-to-back wins after taking on the older horses over 1600m at Randwick on March 6, with the three-year-old relishing the testing conditions, stepping out over 2000m for the first time in his short eight start career.
It couldn’t have unfolded any better for Pocketing and Joshua Parr, with the pair sliding into the one-one on a moderate tempo as Hardpoint () was forced to take up the running after stepping nicely from gate eight.
Tenbury Wells ($19 with BlondeBet) slotted in comfortably on the leaders’ back throughout, while the likes of King Of Thunder (), Golden Century ($6) and Firm Agreement ($9.50) were all smoking the pipe towards the rear of the field.
Hardpoint was quick to ththrown the towel as they turned for home, as Pocketing surged to the totop;owever, the job was far from over for the Yulong gelding, forced to hold off the fast-finishing Firm Agreement and King Of Thunder in the shadows of the post.
All three can be considered major players heading to the Derby on Saturday provided connections elect to backup with the short turn around; however, it was all honours to the winner as co-trainer Will Freedman spoke post-race.
“There’s a decision to make today,” said Freedman regarding the Derby.
“I’ll be guided by Josh a bit. He’s gone from 1600 to 2000 so he is probably entitled to not be savaging the line.
“But you’ve got to keep the option on the table. You’re only three once and if he doesn’t run in the Derby now, he never will.
“It isn’t a bad trick in the spring Oaks with the Wakeful and the Oaks very close. I think a few of those horses will end up going to the Derby. It is a decision we’ve got to make today and hope that he pulls up well.
“For Yulong it is a great result. A homebred, they bought the mare for not a lot of money and put her to their resident sire, Grunt. We didn’t think he’d stay further than 1600-metres but now he’s gone to 2000.”
Joshua Parr then spoke about the gritty victory post-race.
“He relaxed really well. It was great,” said Parr.
“We had to go into the first corner to obtain a position. He found that position and relaxed well.
“I must say that he was tough because Format was under pressure a long way from home and forced me around him. Essentially, I went for him quite early.
“It became a real test in the back end of that race. I guess that is a combination of testing ground and at a proper gallop. The last furlong of that race was survival of the fittest, I guess you could say.
“I think it will race reasonably well, it is holding together quite well but it is definitely a testing track.”
Pocketing is now a $15 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the 2025 ATC Derby on April 5.
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