Within the space of a few hours on Saturday afternoon, Andrew Forsman will be represented by well-credentialled runners at Flemington, Riccarton and Te Rapa.
The Cambridge trainer’s big day kicks off in the opening race at Te Rapa, where two-year-old colt Red Sea will make his debut in the Virtual Print Design & Branding 2YO (1000m).
Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the son of Pierata has won two of his three trials – most recently a victory by a length and three-quarters in a 900m heat at Te Rapa on Tuesday of last week.
“Both of his trial wins were very good,” Forsman said. “He’s a really nice colt who’s always shown above-average ability, right the way through. It’s always a little bit different when they step out on raceday for the first time, but he’s given us every indication that he should run well first-up.
“He’s one of the first horses I’ve trained for Brendan and Jo, so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to train this one. He seems to be a horse with a pretty bright future, so it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do on Saturday.”
Forsman’s other runner at Te Rapa is course specialist Westwood, who contests the North End Law (1200m). The daughter of Charm Spirit was a disappointing last-start eighth on heavy ground at Rotorua, but her seven starts at Te Rapa have produced a win and five placings. She was a black-type placegetter in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m) at the Hamilton track as a two-year-old.
Forsman also has two runners at Riccarton, including Balzano in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld 51st New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
Racing in the same colours as Aegon, who won this race for Forsman in 2020, Balzano has had three starts for a win and two placings. The Shooting To Win gelding was runner-up at Cambridge in September and again at Waverley on October 12, then cleared maiden ranks with a comfortable last-start victory at Rotorua on October 26.
“It’s a big step up from a relatively weak maiden at Rotorua to run against these much classier three-year-olds in the Guineas on Saturday,” Forsman said. “But he’s a horse that I’ve been really happy with all the way through this campaign. He’s kept improving and maturing, and I think he deserves the opportunity.”
Stablemate Good Oil will line up in the Gold Club Premier (2000m), where apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland’s 2kg claim will reduce his impost to 57.5kg.
Meanwhile, dual Group One-winning stable star Mustang Valley will be in action on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington, taking on a quality field of mares in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).
The daughter of Vanbrugh scored a superb win in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on September 30, then finished fourth in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) two weeks later.
In her only appearance since then, Mustang Valley finished at the tail of a six-horse field behind fellow Kiwi mare Prowess in the Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley, but she was less than three lengths away at the finish.
“It was an awkwardly run race that didn’t really suit her,” Forsman said. “The first three were up on the fence and probably enjoyed softer runs, while she had to cover a fair bit more ground out wide. Her sectional times were still pretty good.
“I’ve been really happy with her since then. She’s been thriving since she arrived at Macedon. She was a fit horse when she flew over, having run in those Group Ones at Hastings, and she seems to have continued to go from strength to strength.
“We entered her for a few different races on Saturday, including the Champions Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m), but the Matriarch, over 2000m against her own sex, was the logical target.”
