Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) is due to go one better and claim a black-type title and the gifted filly is heavily favoured to rise to the challenge in Saturday’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.
The Andrew Forsman-trained representative is the pre-post favourite in the Cambridge Stud-sponsored feature and it would be an appropriate victory as her sire Almanzor stands at the Waikato nursery.
Mary Shan has finished runner-up at Group Two level in both the Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and the Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and in between times was a luckless fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“It’s a bit of a shame that the draws have favoured the horses to beat and not so much us, but the mile start helps,” Forsman said.
Also in Mary Shan’s favour is that she has proved herself to be more than one dimensional and performed well when sitting off the pace and from a handy sit.
“She’s adaptable and we’ll be positive and hopefully she can slot in and get a bit of cover. We don’t want to be leading or sitting outside the leader at Trentham,” Forsman said.
Depending on this weekend’s outcome, Mary Shan will remain in the running for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27.
“It will be more how she comes through the race, and if she runs well then it’s on the table,” Forsman said.
He will also be represented by the Savabeel filly Macaluso (NZ) in the Listed IRT Wellsley Stakes (1100m), who has finished fourth in both of her appearances.
“We are leaning toward having a go at the black type, we saw how light the nominations came up and put her in,” Forsman said.
“Trentham was never really on the radar, but it is black-type and she is going really well.
“Ellerslie (on Sunday) is probably the logical lead-up if we are considering the Karaka Millions (1200m), but I think we need to focus on what is in front of us and that is the black-type up for grabs.”
The stable also has several runners at Ellerslie on Sunday with the first cab off the rank Ethereal Star (Snitzel), a last-start runner-up, in the Barfoot & Thompson Ellerslie Is Back (1200m).
“She’s drawn well and a little bit of give in the track helped her the other day and she’s not going to get that on Sunday so it will be interesting to see how she operates on a firmer deck,” Forsman said.
“She is in good form and I’m very happy with her.”
The lightly raced pair of First Innings (NZ) (Contributer) and Rebecchi (Trapeze Artist) will step up in grade to contest the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) with The Patron Saint to be saved for another day after drawing wide.
“It’s not easy for First Innings having his second start over a middle distance, but he is a real staying type of horse and I think it’s a suitable race for him,” Forsman said.
“Rebecchi has drawn to get a soft run. I think the penny dropped last start and he really put them away. He’s a progressive horse who can go on with it.”
First Innings was a debut fourth over 1560 metres at Rotorua while Rebecchi distanced his rivals in a 1600m maiden at Te Aroha.
