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By Adrian Sciglitano

Co-trainer Will Freedman is hoping that class will prevail with his lightly raced three-year-old Pocketing ($2.50 into $2.25 favourite on TAB) when he takes the step to Saturday grade for the first time contesting the Midway Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill Gardens.

“I think he is better than Midway grade, whether he is ready ... he had a let-up between last run and this run so he probably isn’t fully wound down ready to roll, but I think class may prevail,” Freedman said.

Pocketing (Lee Magorrian) hits the line hard to score at Kembla Grange. Image by Bradley Photographers

“I believe he is smart enough to be progressing through Midway grade and hopefully into some of the three-year-old Stakes races if he is good enough.”

If the son of Grunt was to win or run a good race in Saturday’s Midway, Freedman said that a shot at Stakes grade is not out of the question.

“In my opinion there’s not always a huge difference between Benchmark 72 grade and three-year-old Stakes grade so I don’t think that jump is too monumental even if he just misses,” Freedman said.

“The Grunts don’t tend to get longer than a mile, but they do run out a mile so if he won on Saturday he probably earns himself a shot at, say, the Hobartville Stakes [1400m Group 2].

“Then if he runs well in that you may look to run him in one of those Guineas either in Sydney or in Melbourne,” Freedman added.

Pocketing is tasked with a wide draw jumping from barrier 10 in a field of 11 but Freedman concedes his three-year-old is more effective ridden cold with his best performances in his short career coming when ridden that way.

“I think his best runs have been when he is ridden quietly and I think if you’re good enough you win from there [back in the field],” Freedman said.

“Ideally, you’re not drawn as wide and don’t need to get as far back but I am confident as long as the track plays fairly evenly, that he should have enough ability to get himself into the race.

“If the race is devoid of speed and he can’t get into it that's the way it goes. This is not a win at all costs scenario but we would obviously love to win.

"He can still go to the Hobartville if he runs a very good race in open grade,” he added.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here