Forsman in two-state Oz assault
Andrew Forsman is set for a busy weekend, overseeing black-type contenders in both Sydney and Melbourne.
The winner of four New Zealand trainers’ premierships in the last five years alongside Murray Baker, Forsman will saddle Quick Thinker and Rhaegar in today’s Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill.
The following day he will be at Caulfield, where The Chosen One is set to line up in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
Quick Thinker and Rhaegar were both black-type winners at Ellerslie last season, capturing the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) and the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) respectively.
They made their Australian debuts together in last month’s Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m), where Quick Thinker scored an emphatic two-length victory and Rhaegar was fourth. Both have made pleasing progress since then.
“They haven’t missed a beat,” said Forsman, who arrived in Sydney early yesterday afternoon. “It’s a reasonably long time between runs, but they’ve both been working really well and they’re heading into tomorrow’s race in great order.”
Quick Thinker made plenty of waves with his Ming Dynasty victory, and the OTI Racing runner is near the top of betting markets for the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 2. But Baker and Forsman also saw merit in Rhaegar’s performance.
“It was a good effort from him as well,” said Forsman, who secured Rhaegar for $60,000 as a yearling at Karaka for an ownership syndicate that includes himself, his parents, and the Zame family of Jon Snow fame.
“He’s a big horse who takes a little while to get his momentum up, and he didn’t get out and get balanced up until quite late in the race. His wheels were spinning a little bit in the heavy track as well, but he was very solid to the line.”
Damian Lane will ride Quick Thinker today, with Jason Collett partnering Rhaegar.
Following today’s race, both horses will be aimed at the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 12 as they build towards a potential shot at the Derby the following month.
Tomorrow in Melbourne, The Chosen One will attempt to add to a proud stable record in the Underwood Stakes.
The champion trainers won the weight-for-age feature with star mare Bonneval in 2017, and Baker had previously won it himself with The Phantom (1990), Lion Tamer (2011) and Dundeel (2013).
Lane rode The Chosen One in the Feehan Stakes on September 7 where he was a close fifth, and he will take the mount again tomorrow in a race that will determine the 4-year-old’s spring path. Meanwhile, Baker and Forsman will be represented on the home front by Zacada, She’s A Lady, Lucetta and Elle Eye Are at Ellerslie today.