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By Ray Hickson

Aerodrome is the second wave two-year-old that was meant to be given his chance among the first wave but trainer Michael Freedman hopes that it’s all a blessing in disguise come Hawkesbury on Saturday and the future.

Trainer Michael Freedman (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The youngster appeared at the official trials back in September but didn’t make his debut until a couple of weeks ago when successful over 1200m at Warwick Farm.

The Golden Slipper winning trainer said Aerodrome was given more time due to bouts of shin soreness but underlined his promise with his first-up success.

“He went shinsore a couple of times and second time in we made the decision to geld him,’’ Freedman said.

“When he had to go back out for a spell we did it then.

“He’s taken a bit longer but once he wasn’t going to be around for the autumn I thought he might be a late autumn and winter two-year-old for Brisbane if he measures up.”

Freedman said there’s no doubt Aerodrome has potential and given a reasonable track surface at Hawkesbury he’d expect the St John’s Park Bowling Club Clarendon Stakes (1400m) would be within reach.

He showed good speed to offset the outside barrier in his debut win and Freedman’s only concern is whether the track will be too testing given he's not been exposed to wet ground.

“He’s a nice horse, he did a good job first time out at Warwick Farm and seems to have trained on well,’’ he said.

“You never really know if they’ll take the next step, it’s 1400m and better quality opposition and he’s carrying a bit of weight for a two-year-old.

“Hopefully he can run well and he might earn a trip to Queensland but if it ended up a genuine heavy 9 or 10 I’d have to have a think about it.”

An improving surface would also serve Spanish Fox well as he’s given the chance to pick up where he left off in the Clarendon Tavern Handicap (1100m).

The four-year-old put five wins on end, including two at Hawkesbury, last preparation and Freedman said he’ll improve on whatever he does first-up given the 60kg on a wet track.

“He went from a maiden to a Benchmark 82 in one prep so it’s amazing what a bit of confidence can do for a horse,’’ he said.

“He’s never a horse you can get a huge guide on, he goes about his business and is a no fuss type of horse.

“I’ve been happy with his trials, if it was in the soft range we’d send him around and get a run under his belt.”

A wet track doesn’t concern Freedman for Edited By’s chances in The Lawn Shed Handicap (1400m).

Freedman said there were excuses for his below par performance last start on the Kensington track on Anzac Day.

“He over raced a bit the other day and over did things a bit, it was a bit unlike him and it took away from his finish,’’ he said.

Aerodrome wins at Warwick Farm on April 16

“He’s in an awkward spot where he gets too much weight in the 78s so you have to try him in higher grade.

“He’s very fit and he’s handled wet tracks before so it’s worth giving him another crack.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Hawkesbury meeting