Betting tips / Brad Thompson / 05 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Brad Thompson sees Fruehling in the Hollindale Stakes as the best way to get in front early on in a program on Saturday at Gold Coast that has the potential to further enhance the staying credentials of a pair of Anthony Freedman-trained imports.

Fruehling has been asked to carry just the minimum weight of 54kg when he lines up in the Open Handicap (2200m) to kick off a strong nine-race card as the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival launches into top gear.

Trained by the in-form Anthony Freedman, the imported four-year-old will also be guided by resurgent hoop Daniel Moor.

The pair form one of the most lethal combinations in the game: when teaming up over the past 12 months, they have a strike rate of 20% with 37 wins (21 seconds, 21 thirds) from 185 runners.

Moor has been an instrumental player in the success of the winning combination, taking every opportunity to find the breakthrough horse to prove he is in the same league as the top echelon of our nation's jockeys.

The hard-working Moor bypassed the popular Warrnambool carnival during the week to continue his partnership with Fruehling and Freedman's other promising imported stayer and Doomben Cup second favourite Mawingo.

Fruehling is unbeaten from two starts on our shores, with Moor piloting him to both victories, which included his Australian debut at Sandown-Lakeside when scoring an impressive one-length win over 1600m.

He then stepped up in distance to 2018m, demolishing his rivals at Werribee with a 3.5-length win.

Fruehling is half-brother to Glass Harmonium - which scored a group one victory in the spring when winning the Mackinnon Stakes - and also campaigned successfully in a journey to Queensland when landing the Eagle Farm Cup.

On his breeding, and recent performances since arriving in Australia, the Azamour entire of just five career starts should further showcase the glaring difference in ability when comparing European stayers to our own.

Although his most recent wins were only against restricted opposition, he is a stayer with plenty of upside that takes on a moderate field consisting of Brisbane's mediocre week-in-week-out stayers.

It will be his first try at the 2200m journey, which is unsurprising when taking into account how lightly-raced he is, but it should be no query when going back through his form and noticing the second placing when racing over 2068m at Chester.

The track is likely to be rated in the slow range, with rain forecast for Friday before a a fine and sunny raceday, and despite never encountering a wet track, Fruehling's breeding suggests it will pose no problem.

Glass Harmonium, and his other half-brother Holda, both handled rain-affected ground.

While Fruehling might be one of the best bets, yet short-priced favourites, there is value to be found on the rest of the program.

Moor will also link up Mawingo in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes(1800m), another import which has impressed in Australia for under the watchful training eye of Freedman.

On an each-way basis in the Listed Ken Russell Memorial (1200m), Patinack Farm-owned Wolfsburg appeals at long odds.

In the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m), Mossriver and Beethg look genuine chances to cause a boil-over, or at least run into the placings.