Top class three-year-old colt Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) may have given favourite backers heart palpitations, but his quality shone through late as he overhauled stablemate Commander Harry (NZ) (Reliable Man) in the shadows of the post to win the Gr. 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at The Valley.
Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young celebrated a notable quinella, with Savabeel colt Forgot You likely to start a warm favourite in next week’s Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m).
When even-money chance Forgot You went through his customary flat-spot with 500m to run, Linda Meech took full advantage, driving 100-1 chance Commander Harry to the front and all but stole the race.
Interestingly, Forgot You, who was ridden by in-form jockey Daniel Moor, remains in the acceptances for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and has been through the relevant pre-Cup veterinary scans, should he back-up from the Derby.
“It was fantastic. We’ve got a share of Forgot You so I was kind of glad that he got the bob in there but it was a good ride by Linda Meech on Commander Harry and great for SCT syndications,” Young said.
“But Forgot You, he always leaves us with our hearts in our mouths and it is good to have two live Derby contenders for next Saturday.
“It was a little bit of a different week for Forgot You. We had to take him to Werribee (vets) on Monday for his Melbourne Cup scans and we galloped him on Tuesday. He missed out on his beach trip this week but it has paid off.
“It was a great ride by Daniel. He’s flying at the moment with three Group Ones this spring and great for those Ozzie Kheir colours. They add a leg with those colours on them.”
Moor has ridden Forgot You at each of his five starts this campaign for three wins, including success in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 24.
“I was always pretty confident because I know he hits that flat spot,” Moor said. “I know that everyone in the world was having a heart attack, but I know he does that.
“Today I was in the clear and had a good lure to chase, today was more preferable to the other times I’ve ridden him.
“Linda (Meech) does Linda things – she’s an amazing rider. She just took the race by the proverbial and took off and even though it helped me, that horse has won a maiden and run second in a Group race here.
“Good riders make things happen and she (Meech) made things happen. Unfortunately for her I just got her.”
Forgot You is $3.20 favourite for the Derby, while Reliable Man gelding Commander Harry firmed to $41 for the 2500m Classic.
Jungle Magnate (NZ), a son of Tarzino, ran home well into third.
Bred by Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, Forgot You is out of the winning O’Reilly mare Simply You (NZ), a three-quarter sister to stakes-winners Escadaire (NZ) (O’Reilly), Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Group Two winner Rare Insight (NZ) (O’Reilly), dam of Gr.1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) winner Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer).
Simply You is a daughter of multiple Group One winner Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale of the Cat).
Forgot You was purchased by Busuttin Racing for A$330,000 as a two-year-old after being prepared by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud.
