The ChosenOne’s shot at redemption
Andrew Forsman has delved into his box of tricks in an attempt to conjure up a form reversal from The Chosen One at Doomben today.
The Cambridge trainer will do what he can to get the best out of the six-year-old in the Group I Doomben Cup (2000m), but acknowledges that circumstances out of his control present the biggest hurdle. The course was rated a heavy 8 yesterday and further rain looms in the forecast.
‘‘It’s pretty gloomy so there is a lot against the horse with the weather and he’s coming off a bad run, which we couldn’t really get our head around,’’ Forsman said.
The Chosen One beat only one runner home under jockey Hugh Bowman on a rain-affected track in the Group I Sydney Cup (3200m) at his last appearance in April.
‘‘Hugh made a few comments after the Sydney Cup and maybe we rode him a bit too aggressively and he didn’t get into a great rhythm, breathing-wise,’’ Forsman said.
‘‘We’ll ride him quietly in a small field. He’ll be out the back doing his own thing and we know that if he does run up to his best form he will be competitive.’’
Forsman will also tinker with gear additions for The Chosen One, who won the Group I Thorndon Mile (1600m) earlier this year before consecutive third placings in the Group I
Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Group I Bonecrusher Stakes (2000m) and Group I Tancred Stakes (2400m) ahead of the Sydney Cup.
‘‘We will change some gear to try and spark him up, knowing that if he puts in another poor performance it could be his last run,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ll put blinkers on him and a tongue tie and a nose band. It’s a shame that he’s not going to get a reasonable track, that’s the big factor for him. Being a little bit fussy about things now, he doesn’t need a heavy track.’’
Should The Chosen One prove competitive, he will bow out in the Group II Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
‘‘If he measures up and runs well we will press on and that would be his last run,’’ Forsman said.
His young stablemate Meritable has done well since he ran fourth on a wet track in the Group III Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) in the Snitzel colt’s first appearance since his runner-up finish in the Group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring.
‘‘He got through the going better than a lot of them and for a horse that hadn’t run for such a long time, the run held a lot of merit.’’
Meritable will step out next on Saturday week in the Group III Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The stable will also keep a close watch on Rosehill where Marroni runs in the Listed City of Parramatta Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) today.
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