3 minute read

Yulong Command will be out to improve his impressive statistics at Moonee Valley when he runs in the Carlyon Stakes.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable would like short course racing at Moonee Valley every week. 

Track specialist Yulong Command returns to racing in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) on Saturday. 

Yulong Command has six wins from 19 starts with five of those victories coming at The Valley, and from seven starts at the track, Yulong Command also has a further two placings. 

The one win 'away' from Moonee Valley for Yulong Command was a Moe, which like The Valley is a Strathayr track. 

While Yulong Command does race well at The Valley with wins from 955m to 1200m, Sam Freedman did issue a slight word of warning, the gelding does not want the track to be too wet. 

At acceptance time on Wednesday, the track was rated a Soft 6 while showers are forecast at Moonee Valley and the surrounding areas for the remainder of the week. 

"He likes firmer ground, but he is an amazing horse around The Valley," Freedman said. 

"He's got a great record here and our preference is to run, but if it got into that really heavy range, we would just wait with him. 

"We haven't really got lofty targets with him, but he's a short course specialist and he loves it here. 

"We'll try and keep him here as much as we can." 

Yulong Command scored successive wins over 1000m and 955m at The Valley in January and February while at his last start the gelding finished third to Esta La Roca over 955m in March. 

Esta La Roca is a rival on Saturday in the 1000m contest at set-weights and penalties which sees the Peter Moody-trained Oxley Road the topweight with 59kg. 

Oxley Road jumps from barrier 11 with Yulong Command drawn outside him in the 13-horse field.