Freedman camp to start La Mexicana’s Group 1 chase at Caulfield Saturday

La Mexicana wasn’t quite ready for the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes but the filly will resume her chase for a Group 1 win at Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.

Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman entered La Mexicana and King Of Hastings for the Bletchingly Stakes but neither were among the acceptors for the feature sprint.

Sam Freedman said the stable thought La Mexicana wasn’t quite fit enough for 1200m first-up. But the Garry Franklin Handicap over 1100m was the perfect starting point for her preparation.

La Mexicana will resume in Benchmark 90 grade on Saturday. However, Freedman said the stable has much bigger plans with the rising four-year-old in the spring.

The daughter of I Am Invincible was a Group 3 winner at Caulfield in February but the Freedman camp wants to improve the filly’s pedigree page with bigger wins.

“She’s got a nice rating for what she has run in and won,” Freedman said.

“Saturday is a nice first-up race that will lead her into the Aurie’s Star (Handicap) and potentially to a Memsie or a Rupert Clarke or something like that.

Jockey Jamie Kah has won six races in eight rides on La Mexicana. Picture: Racing Photos.Source:Getty Images

“She’s got that black type already and the only real benefit to her pedigree would be a Group 2 or Group 1 (win).

“We’ll look to try to get a Group 1 win with her but they don’t give them away for free.”

La Mexicana’s only previous bid for a Group 1 win was over before the start of the Surround Stakes in Sydney in February.

Her barrier manners were poor and La Mexicana ran accordingly.

But Freedman said La Mexicana has shown she has developed mentally in the early stages of her spring preparation.

“Interestingly, just in her work, she’s a lot more relaxed this preparation,” Freedman said.

“She seems to be maturing and calming down so I think she’s giving herself every chance to be running a strong 1400m later on.”

Jamie Kah, who has won six races from eight rides on La Mexicana, will again be aboard the smart filly at Caulfield.

TAB has installed La Mexicana as a $3.30 second favourite in opening betting on the Garry Franklin Handicap. Miss Albania is the top pick at $2.40.

Originally published asLa Mexicana to spice up Caulfield Saturday

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