Freedom Street to face stiff challenge for George HoSang Trophy

NO QUARTER will be given on the lead in Saturday’s George HoSang Trophy in which speedsters MUDSHAFT, BENSON, FREEDOM STREET, and THALITA should have a battle royal at six furlongs.

Whereas BENSON might be class-suspect, overnight-allowance winner, FREEDOM STREET, and 2023 St Leger heroine THALITA have the quality to turn the event on its head.

United States-bred MUDSHAFT showed improvement for a second straight run since administered Lasix, placing a fair fifth behind LABAN two weeks ago when going for consecutive wins at five furlongs straight.

Unlike when she comfortably tracked ADENOSINE in 46.1 before pulling away inside the final furlong on December 14, MUDSHAFT was hustled to chase JOY IS GOLDEN and MRS LYNDHURST along the stands’ side in a half-mile split of 45.3, fractions that certainly left her spent in the closing stages.

Breaking from the one hole with Trevor Simpson, tracking nothing-to-lose BENSON could prove beneficial for MUDSHAFT on the round course should the likes of FREEDOM STREET and THALITA get caught too far behind in the stretch run.

THALITA raced five times last year after ending her 2023 classic season with a fifth-place run in the Jamaica Derby behind ABILITY. Runner-up to stablemate MAMMA MIA in the 1000 Guineas and an impressive winner of the St Leger, beating colts, THALITA’s class goes without doubt but not her soundness.

After winning second time out last July, off a nine-month lay-up, THALITA raced twice – August and September – in open-allowance company before reappearing three months later among overnight-allowance runners at six and a half furlongs on Boxing Day.

Chasing DIGITAL ONE from three furlongs out, THALITA came off the home turn ahead of FREEDOM STREET, staging a brief rally before giving way approaching the furlong pole. A reprogrammed THALITA could easily turn the tables on FREEDOM STREET with the Boxing Day outing under her girth.

FREEDOM STREET had an excuse or two for not having gone past THALITA earlier. The six-year-old gelding found himself trapped against the rail with THALITA on his outside down the backstretch, causing Reyan Lewis to take his mount in hand at least twice before getting racing room at the top of the lane.

Considering he was second-best behind runaway-winner DIGITAL ONE, FREEDOM STREET should be the horse to beat. However, THALITA should be better for the run, and MUDSHAFT might very well prefer the round course, making the George HoSang one of those races in which risks should not be taken.