Anthony Freedman has the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival riches in sight for his Japanese import Ambitious who is set to target the 2018 Doomben Cup next month.

Anthony Freedman recently won the Doomben Cup with Our Ivanhowe (2016, pictured) and has Ambitious on track for the 2018 edition if there is a firm track. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Deep Impact six-year-old Ambitious has had three runs down under with the Mornington-based Victorian horseman Freedman but remains a maiden in Australia.

Improving on a first-up ninth when four lengths off Harlem in Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), the stallion’s best performance this time in was the third to Almandin in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on March 31.

Things went amiss for the galloper last time out at Royal Randwick however when on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ he was unable to get within 12 lengths of the world’s best mare Winx running eighth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Despite the distance finish on April 14, Freedman told Racing Victoria this week that he was happy with the run of Ambitious in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and was happy to press onto Queensland this winter.

Freedman named the Group 1 $650,000 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 19 as an attractive option for the horse up in the Sunshine State, but only if the Brisbane track is firm.

“He’s been up there [in Queensland] about a week,” Freedman said.

“I was really happy with the way he came through [his last run].

“He lost shoes and it all went terribly wrong the other day but he’s still in good shape and the plan is certainly to head towards the Doomben Cup.

“If we get wet tracks he certainly won’t run. He’ll just take a break up there but if we get the right track, he’ll certainly be running.”

Freedman has prepared dual Doomben Cup winners in recent years with Mawingo (2012) and Our Ivanhowe (2016) and is planning an assault consisting of around 10 horses on the carnival this season.

“I’ve sent eight or 10 horses up there this year – horses that I like and that I think have a future because the exercise is not cheap,” he confirmed.

“There’s always a benefit from doing that [spending the winter in Queensland].

“Our winters are not great and I think the horses can probably suffer a bit from that and I think we can lose out a bit to the Sydney guys because they get the better weather.”

All-in Doomben Cup betting at bookmakers around the country is currently dominated by the Darren Weir-trained Gailo Chop.

The seven-year-old French import won Rosehill’s Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on the back of an Australian Cup second before a fourth in the Tancred Stakes and second to Winx in the Queen Elizabeth.

For all the best Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival betting odds and offers over the coming months head to Ladbrokes.com.au.