Fresh and improving Aegon will contest Captain Cook Stakes
Aegon has appreciated time between assignments from an early age and that selective approach continues to bring out the best in the 5-year-old.
He has been sparingly raced throughout his career with six wins from 15 appearances and nearly $1.5 million banked from his efforts for Cambridge trainer and part-owner Te Awamutu College alumnus Andrew Forsman.
Aegon will bid to add to his record in Saturday’s Gr.1 Rydges Captain Cook Stakes ( 1600m) at Trentham where he will typically front up in a fresh state.
“That suits him best. In the past as a younger horse he hasn’t coped too well with racing too closely together,” said Forsman.
“I don’t know whether that will be the case forever, but at this stage it’s what he appreciates.
“He’s not an overly big horse and it doesn’t take a lot to keep him fit. He’s not quirky and is very easy to train and does seem to race better on the fresh side.”
Aegon, who emulated his late sire,
Sacred Falls, with victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) as a 3-year-old, hasn’t raced since a brief but successful Victorian spring carnival campaign.
He was a first-up winner of the Gr.3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and then came from well back off an outside gate to finish fourth in the Gr.1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
“The Moonga Stakes looked like a suitable race so we went over and had a go and he won so well and then improved up to the mile to give us might try and look for someone there confidence that he was back to near who could stick with him next camhis best form,” said Forsman. paign and Michael was available.”
“From there, it was about looking Dee has also been booked for for suitable options for him and what stablemate and debut winner Bella he does on Saturday will determine Ragazza in the Mode Technology what we do next. Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m).
“I’m very happy with the horse, The daughter of Tivaci earned an he’s done well. He’s had a little bit of early chance at black type after sucan interrupted prep¯atOwiththetripbackcessatthefirsttimeofasking taki home and he had a week in the and has since been stabled there with paddock. Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard.
“He’s hadsome time out before he’s “She has come through the run comeback into it and that has worked well and will have a gallop on well for him before so it shouldn’t be Thursday morning and will be ready too much of a drama.” to go,” said Forsman.
Aegon will be ridden at the weekMeanwhile, The Intimidator will end by expatriate Kiwi jockey step out in Saturday’s Mitchell Family Michael Dee, who also enjoyed a Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukelucrative spring with wins in the Gr.1 kohe ahead of a return visit for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Durston Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and the Gr.1 VRC Derby ( 2500m) on January 21. aboard Manzoice. He finished runner-up on debut
“I don’t know how many more and the Toronado gelding has since races he’ll have in New Zealand so reeled off victories at Taupō and we were thinking ahead as to who Matamata. might be the best fit,” said Forsman. “He’s been great and was a bit raw,
“We thought if it was a quiet but the penny has dropped pretty enough weekend in Australia we quickly,” said Forsman.