Queen of Diamonds ace in trainers pack
How his trio of talented fillies handle the step up to 2400m on a rain-affected Trentham track is Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman’s only concern heading into today’s Group I New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
Forsman and training partner Murray Baker will produce Queen Of Diamonds, Clementina and Rubira in the three-year-old fillies feature on a track that was rated a dead six.
‘‘We’ve got three good fillies that give us a chance,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘There’s no superstar in the race this year. Queen Of Diamonds looks pretty good but she’s got to run out 2400m on a potentially rain-affected track. Against ours, Pinmedown and Imelda Mary look very nice fillies and it’s hard to fault what they’ve done.’’
China Horse Club-owned Savabeel filly Queen Of Diamonds assumed favouritism for the Oaks after her brilliant win in the Group II Lowland Stakes (2000m) at Hastings last month under jockey Matthew Cameron, who retains the ride today.
‘‘She was very good at Hastings. She was well ridden the way the track was playing. You had to be on the speed that day and she got the right run but she’s also got the turn of foot to do that,’’ Forsman said.
‘‘Now she’s got to take that ability to the 2400m on an off track. We know she can sprint well but she’s just got to relax now so she can conserve her energy and produce that when it matters.’’
TAB bookmakers installed Queen Of Diamonds as a $4.20 final field market favourite ahead of last-start Sunline Vase (2100m) winner Pinmedown at $4.80, and third favourite Imelda Mary at $6.50. Rubira was at $11 and Clementina at $13 after their runs for eighth and second respectively in the Sunline Vase.
‘‘We probably would have ridden Clementina quieter at Ellerslie but from that good draw we opted to put her in the race and that negated her turn of foot a little bit. Ridden more patiently, she’ll see the 2400m right out,’’ Forsman said.
‘‘Rubira was getting wound up when the gaps closed and while she wouldn’t have won, she probably would have finished right up with the placed horses.
‘‘She’s been crying out for a bit of give in the ground and she gets that this weekend. Whether she’s mature and strong enough yet to run out the 2400m on a testing track is a query but she deserves her chance.’’
With all three holding a nomination for the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 13, that gives weight to the possibility of a trip to Sydney should they run well. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Concert Hall is thriving this preparation and punters have again warmed to the four-year-old mare, installing her the $2.30 favourite for the Group III Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham today.
The daughter of Savabeel couldn’t have been more impressive in winning at Tauranga and Matamata respectively in her past two starts and has pleased her conditioners as she steps-up to Group company.
‘‘She’s really well,’’ James said. ‘‘She is a good worker at home and her work has been right up to the mark.
‘‘I think she looks well placed. It [the step-up to stakes company] has come at a nice time in her preparation and I just hope we don’t get too much rain.’’
The Trentham track was rated a dead6 yesterday, with scattered showers forecast.
James said Concert Hall was on trial for a tilt at the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 6.
‘‘As always with horses you take one step at a time but certainly the Breeders’ Stakes is on the radar,’’ James said.
Meanwhile, James is confident his NZ Oaks (2400m) contender Elate has bounced back from a heart fibrillation suffered when trailing home the field in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie last start. ‘‘She has had a lovely preparation and I was reasonably confident going into the Sunline Vase where she fibrillated.
‘‘That’s behind us hopefully and her work in between has been as good as any staying threeyear-old filly I have had, probably barring Giovana,’’ James said.
‘‘I think she will get the trip no problem, but she is dependent on pretty good footing and I wouldn’t want it any worse than the track is now.’’
James and Wellwood will also send out last-start Wanganui winner In Fashion in the March Madness Cup (1200m) for twoyear-olds where the daughter of Showcasing has drawn barrier one. ‘‘I think she can use the barrier to a degree,’’ James said.
‘‘She will be a better filly when she goes 1400m and quite possibly a mile.’’
In Fashion holds a nomination for the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on March 30, but will first have to prove her worth against a strong field which includes the highly touted Te Akau juvenile Equinox.