Incognito, rated equal favourite for the Golden Slipper, is set to resume at Rosehill in the Canonbury Stakes as his path toward the $5 million juvenile feature begins to take shape.

A sharp performer as a two-year-old in the spring, the colt claimed the Breeders’ Plate (1000m) and has since been given two trial outings to ready him for his return, most recently finishing third in a heat won by stablemates Enriched and Manaal.

Michael Freedman has been impressed with what he’s seen from Incognito since he came back in, noting the colt has returned bigger and brighter.

“He has certainly strengthened up a little bit, and he’s still got a beautiful temperament, which is just as important,” Freedman said.

“I think he’s come back in great order.”

Freedman has been down this road before, having trained Stay Inside to win the 2021 edition of the Golden Slipper after a late start to his racing career, using the Pierro Plate (1100m) and Todman Stakes (1200m) as key lead-ups.

While Incognito won’t mirror that exact program, the Todman remains a likely stepping stone.

“The long-term plan would be the Canonbury into the Silver Slipper and Todman,” Freedman said.

“Things can change a little bit with two-year-olds, but that would be the plan at the moment.”

Eight colts and geldings are set to contest the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) on Saturday, with Incognito to shoulder 57.5kg under the set weights plus penalties scale, giving away three kilos to his opponents.

The companion feature for the fillies is the Widden Stakes (1100m), where Freedman’s Hardanger is among the entries after running third to Slipper equal favourite Warwoven at her only start in December.

The post Incognito to launch Golden Slipper campaign at Rosehill first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

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