‘Dour’ Jon Snow to press on at Flemington

Group One-winning entire Jon Snow will face a strong field when he contests today’s Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, with Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman hoping the son of Iffraaj can show solid progression from his firstup fourth in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) a fortnight ago.

‘‘Obviously he is second-up off a big first-up run,’’ Forsman said.

‘‘It’s very similar to last year in that he is second-up at a mile.

‘‘He is a stayer probably looking for further and you would expect him to be a little bit dour. We’re looking for a good, solid run, similar to what he put in to last year.’’

Jon Snow finished behind Humidor in last eighth year’s Makybe Diva Stakes, which proved a springboard to success in the Group III JRA Cup (2040m) followed by a Group I placing in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

‘‘He’s a year older, so he is a bit more mature physically and he is a more experienced traveller, so he has settled in really well over there,’’ Forsman said.

‘‘I expect him to run well, but it is a pretty hot field.’’

Jon Snow is one of nine Group I winners in the field of 12, with Darren Weir saddling a quartet of runners including reigning champion Humidor, and will bid to win his third successive Makybe Diva Stakes following the win of Palentino in 2016.

Despite the quality of the field, Forsman does not believe there are too many natural frontrunners and expects Jon Snow and rider Stephen Baster to go forward from barrier 4.

‘‘He naturally just jumps and puts himself in the race,’’ Forsman said.

‘‘He will be handy enough and I don’t think there is a heap of speed on paper, so that should suit him.

‘‘Stephen has ridden him before and knows him pretty well, and although nothing is locked in beyond Saturday, at this stage I’d like to think he will stick with him.’’

With a team of five including Bonneval, Vin De Dance, Zacada, Rubira and Jon Snow already based at Flemington, the BakerForsman Melbourne team will grow even further in the coming days.

A pair of smart three-year-olds is set to travel from New Zealand this weekend.

‘‘Peaceful and Botti are going to Melbourne on Sunday and they will both campaign there,’’ Forsman said.

‘‘Ole Ole will run in New Zealand next week. Hopefully the weather holds, and we can get a line on him on a reasonable track at a mile.’’

NZ Racing Desk