Racehorse TALK

By Robert Windmill
Melbourne
Wednesday 23 September 2009, 6:55pm

Dual stakeswinner Come Hither spearheads Lee Freedman's bid for consecutive Group Three Champagne Stakes wins at Moonee Valley.

Freedman, who also has the promising Miss Bellezza engaged in Friday night's 1200-metre fillies' feature, said he expected Come Hither to regain form after her last-start failure against the boys in the McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 29.

"I think Come Hither would be the better of the two in a strong race," said Freedman who won the event last year with $15 chance Dan Baroness.

"We have freshened her since her last run and back against her own sex she is better placed."

The Peter Moody-trained Avenue, who last start finished second to Thousand Guineas favourite Irish Lights at Flemington, is TAB Sportsbet's $2.70 favourite ahead of Rostova ($4.40).

Come Hither is at $5 with Miss Bellezza the rank outsider at $31.

Last season Come Hither was rated among Freedman's best two-year-olds after winning the Debutants Stakes at her second start and the Talindert Stakes first-up in January.

She was one of the favourites for the Blue Diamond Stakes but chipped a bone in a hind leg and finished last.

Freedman was pleased with Come Hither's spring opener when a fast-finishing third to Corsaire and Headway in the Listed Quezette Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and blamed shifty ground for her disappointing run in the McNeil.

He said a rainy outlook for the end of the week was a worry but he was hoping any showers would have minimal impact on the track.

"If it doesn't rain too much and the track stays about deadish I expect her to improve," Freedman said.

Kerrin McEvoy will ride Come Hither and Dwayne Dunn takes the reins on Miss Bellezza who won first-up in Adelaide and last start finished fourth to the talented Definitely Ready at Sandown.