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By Ray Hickson

Almost everything about Rolling Magic’s lead up to his first-up run at Rosehill on Saturday is giving co-trainer Will Freedman some reason to be cautious about his prospects.

Will Freedman (Pic: Bradley Photos)

So he says stablemate Miss Spacegirl might be the more reliable option for punters in the Midway Handicap (1300m).

But such is the nature of the opener to the Rosehill meeting, Freedman said if the four-year-old does bring his A-game it’s a race well within his reach.

The gelding’s campaign earlier this year was restricted to two starts due to a bad foot abscess after he contested a Provincial-Midway Championships qualifier at Gosford in March.

“I’m surprised Rolling Magic opened favourite to be honest,’’ Freedman said.

“I don’t know how well he is going, his work has improved from his last trial so there is some optimism there.

“He was reluctant to take part early in his last prep and if he isn’t able to hold a spot early in this race I worry about him getting a bit too far back.

“His best is good enough for sure. Rolling Magic’s proven best is better than Miss Spacegirl’s but he’s one you’d have to take on trust.”

Rolling Magic was an easing $6 favourite with TAB on Friday, with Miss Spacegirl closing the gap at $7.

Freedman said he’d like to see the gelding make some use of barrier one with the blinkers on though suspects he will be more effective over further given his wins have come at 1400m and a mile.

“He was progressive the prep before last and he was building toward a decent performance last prep,’’ he said.

“I think he is probably in need of a couple of runs to get hard and fit, it’s been quite a while since he’s had some consistent racing. It’s a very open Midway due to the fact there’s no standouts.

“I just want him to position behind the speed and be able to hit the line strongly. I think he’s going to be a miler but we’ll see how we go.”

Miss Spacegirl has the race fitness on her side and while he’d have preferred the filly to have drawn Rolling Magic’s gate he can see a scenario where she’s hard to beat.

She made her Midway debut at Rosehill two weeks ago and ran a closing third behind Motoscafo that pleased Freedman given the way the race panned out.

With rain forecast for next week he said it’s likely they’ll give her the chance to back that run up but concedes she’s going to need her share of luck.

“If she could get into a three wide with cover line she’d be a very good chance,’’ he said.

“She won’t have to take inside runs, it was a good ride by Dylan as he had to do what he did last time but it’d be nice to see her build momentum and come down the outside. The issue is the rail is out 6m and that can sometimes favour on speed runners.

Miss Spacegirl runs third at Rosehill on June 14

“I don’t know whether a slowly run race for Miss Spacegirl is a bad thing for her, it means she tacks on and travels a bit stronger, she's just going to have to get momentum around the bend.

“I’d probably favour her due to the fact she’s been racing well.”

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