The Richard and Michael Freedman-trained Love Tap is set for his first public appearance at Rosehill on Tuesday.

The son of Tapit was last seen running fourth in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in October last year.

Love Tap is set to reunite with Nash Rawiller, who rode him in his last three starts including a win in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

Co-Trainer Richard Freeman says the three-year-old had suffered an setback since his last start.

“”He had a hock injury and he had to go back to the paddock for a while,” he said.

“He’s had a long break between runs. But he looks good.

“He never trials very well. I think he’d had two trials and he was last in both of them.”

The three-year-old had racing fans talking after impressive wins at Goulburn in his second and third starts.

He was undefeated through four starts after a dominant display in the Gloaming, winning by 1.8 lengths before finishing fourth in the Spring Champion Stakes over 2000 metres.

But looking forward to the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, Freedman isn’t sold that the three-year-old can perform over the staying trips.

“We will take him up there (to Queensland). We’re not sure that he’s a stayer, we think he could be just a miler and maybe to 1800 metres,” he said.

“He might be a horse we could run in the Gunsynd Quality, that sort of race and if he freshened up and won his first start brilliantly.

“We might even think about running in a Stradbroke. But he’d have to impress.”

The Richard And Michael Freedman team have nominated two horses ahead of the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

Juan Diva, who was a heavily backed favourite last start, is nominated for the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) and last start winner Luvior in a benchmark 78 (1500m).

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au