Asakura is one of Mitchell Freedman’s most exciting three-year-old’s, boasting a record of two wins from three starts.

The son of Churchill is a “very progressive” horse, according to the trainer, and Freedman has specked the gelding as a potential futures play for a race like the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).

Speaking on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up, the Ballarat-based trainer announced that Asakura will likely be running in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) on February 14 – a major leadup race for the Australian Guineas.

“We probably raise the bar a little bit and go to the three-year-old grade, it's the right time of year to be doing it,” Freedman revealed.

“We'll probably see him in the CS Hayes, but he'll have to elevate again, that's for sure.

“He's going to be aimed up a bit now, so if he steps up in the CS Hayes and is impressive, you never know what could happen (with futures bets).

“He is still a little bit immature, and he's got to work out how to handle his racing a bit better yet.

“And since we gelded him, he hasn't quite turned into the coat, so it's a little bit scary that there could be a bit more improvement to come in.”

Regarding the bay’s two impressive victories across 1200m at Terang and 1340m at Geelong, the trainer admitted that the gelding will have an exciting career ahead of him.

“He won his maiden with only getting out with a little bit of time before the post, and he was very strong through the line there,” Freedman stated.

“The other day (at Geelong) he sort of got exposed early, hit the front early and wandered around - he beat a few horses that are probably at their mark or not quite inform.

“But at the same time, it was a bit of a measuring stick for him just because those horses had raced at a decent level at three - I thought that he handled them well and he's cut through it well.

“Exciting times ahead for him and the connections.”

Asakura is currently $21 to win the Australian Guineas with Sportsbet on February 28.

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