June 6 - Having made a solid start to his career in Singapore last weekend, Australian trainer Michael Freedman will be taking the wrap off Stedman, a smart four-year old from Melbourne who will be his leading chance for the Singapore Derby in June.

Freedman, who saddled up his first Singapore runner Teskara to finish third in last Sunday's meeting, will have Stedman making his local debut in this Friday night's meeting at Kranji. The son of Second Empire has been declared to run in the last event of the evening, a $95,000 Open Benchmark 83 race over 1400m.

"Stedman was a pretty handy sort back in Melbourne. He ran second on Oaks day last year at his last start" said the younger brother of Australian Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman. "His target here is the Derby but Friday's race will tell me where he stands in that regard."

Stedman ran a three-quarter-length second to Gallopin on November 8, 2007 in one of the Crown Victoria Oaks undercard races at Flemington, the TCL Electronics (1800m) race for 4&5YO. He was then trained by Cranbourne trainer Rodney Douglas and had leading Melbourne jockey Craig Williams aboard.

That was to be his last start before his owner, well-known Melbourne racing identity Jonathan Munz with a group of other owners, sent him to Freedman to race under the Mummify Stable banner.

"He's never run over 10 furlongs but looking at his breeding, I would think he should be able to see it out," said Freedman. The Singapore Derby is a Group 1 event staged over 2000m on July 13.

Though he was more of a sprinter-miler himself, former Irish Champion 2YO Second Empire is by leading sire Fairy King, who produced staying champions like Falbrav (Eclipse Stakes, Japan Cup) and Helissio (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe).

Stedman came to Singapore on April 5 with consistent statistics of four wins (1200m to 1722m), two seconds and two thirds from 12 starts, earning about $75,000 Australian dollars in prize money.

Freedman is pleased with Teskara's third on Sunday and hopes he won't have to wait long for his winning turn.

"He had only been here around six weeks and that was a worry with him, but he was more forward than a few of the others I brought up and I now get a good guide as to where a few of the others are," he said.

South African jockey Robbie Fradd, who was aboard Teskara, will ride Stedman. They jump from barrier No 3.