Australia: Freedom Square set for top effort in Coonabarabran Cup

For a fifth-place finisher, Freedom Square ran very well in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Canterbury Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 9. Freedom Square was five wide through the stretch and finished with interest to lose by only three-quarters of a length.

The relatively narrow loss could lead to a better performance in the Coonabarabran Cup at a mile at Coonabarabran Racecourse on Thursday evening.

A stalker, Freedom Square should have a pace to follow in a field of 12 and has been assigned minimum weight of 119 pounds, far less than topweight High Court at 136.6.

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Trained by Paul Messara, Freedom Square has won 5 of 15 starts, but is winless in his last four starts, since a victory in a one-mile handicap at Dubbo Racecourse in June.

Freedom Square was favored at 3-1 in early betting on Wednesday morning, a slight choice over Beckford (4-1) and High Court (5-1).

Beckford, who typically runs from well off the pace, was second in the Armidale Cup at 1 3/16 miles at Armidale Racecourse on Dec. 11 and should be suited to the one-mile distance of the Coonabarabran Cup. Beckford has won 7 of 30 starts, with three wins at a mile and one at a mile and 50 yards.

High Court has a similar style. A winner of 8 of 38 starts, High Court will have his third race following a layoff of five months in the Coonabarabran Cup. In the last month, High Court has finished last of 10 in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in a race that was much shorter than many of his recent starts, and finished well to run fifth of 13 in a handicap at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

The mile distance should suit High Court if the weight assignment is not too much of a burden.

The Coonabarabran Cup is part of an eight-race program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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