One of the stars of last season’s New Zealand three-year-old crop made a bold return to racing at Caufield on Saturday.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) swept all before him on the local scene, winning all four of his starts including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the $1million Karaka 3YO Classic (1600m).
He travelled to Sydney in the autumn and was a dominant winner of the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) fresh-up followed by creditable runs in both the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) before he returned home for a winter break.
The Cambridge trainers elected to kick-off Aegon’s four-year-old campaign in Saturday’s Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, where he produced an eye-catching late run to finish fourth behind Behemoth (All Too Hard) under jockey Jye McNeil.
Forsman, who also part-owns the Sacred Falls gelding, was delighted with the performance after his charge got back in the running and lacked room at crucial stages of the contest.
“I was rapt with the run, as he made up good ground after having to go back from his draw,” Forsman said.
“The tempo of the race suited those who were up near the speed, but there’s not much you can do about that when you are locked away at the back.
“Jye said he never really got into a good spot as every which way he went he found there was no opening and the gaps never appeared.
“In saying that, he has closed off very strongly and certainly wasn’t out of place at that level, which gives us confidence for the future.”
Saturday’s race was considered a hit and run mission with Aegon booked to return home on Wednesday before connections decide on his next start, which could be in his major spring target, the A$7.5million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 30.
“We haven’t really thought about what to do next as he is tentatively booked to come home on Wednesday,” Forsman said.
“His main aim is the Golden Eagle at the end of October, so we have a bit of time to let him get over Saturday before we decide if we give him another run before then or go straight to that race.”
Forsman was also pleased to see stablemate Quick Thinker (So You Think) produce a much-improved effort when fifth over 2000m at Kembla Grange earlier in the day.
“He (Quick Thinker) improved on his first up effort (11th of 11), which was good to see, although he probably cost himself by being a little too keen in front during the race,” he said.
“I also think the track had improved during the day and may have been a little good for him as he excels on those wetter surfaces.
“He is being aimed at the Metropolitan (Gr.1, 2400m) in October, so where we run him next will be fairly weather dependent as he just isn’t the same horse in the dry.
“We have to keep our fingers crossed that Sydney keeps getting the rain, which is probably the opposite to the majority of his rivals.”
Forsman also reported that 2020 Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) placegetter The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) had arrived in Melbourne in fine fettle ahead of his campaign opener at Moonee Valley in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.
“The Chosen One flew to Melbourne with Aegon and he has settled in really well,” he said.
“He will go around at The Valley on Saturday and will most likely need the run, although he is thriving at the moment.
“His main aim is both of the Cup races (Caulfield and Melbourne) again this year, so we will most likely follow the same pattern as last year with three to four runs before the Caulfield Cup on October 16.”
On the local scene, promising four-year-old mare Francesca (NZ) (Iffraaj) will have her fresh-up run at Te Rapa this Saturday while Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who was unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old last season, will head to the trials at Cambridge next Friday before opening a three-year-old campaign that has the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in early November as the main aim.
