Progressive galloper Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos) bounced back to winning form when he prevailed in a thrilling three-way finish to the feature race at Pukekohe, the Jamieson Park 1500.
The four-year-old son of Vadamos displayed all his fighting qualities as he held out a stirring challenge from Zaila and the late finishing Accidental Tourist to register his fifth career win for a large group of owners that includes the sponsor of the race, Jamieson Park.
Given a perfect trip in transit one-out behind pacemaker Pow Wow by rider Michael McNab, Devastate launched his challenge early in the home straight as he raced to a clear lead.
He was immediately challenged by Chattahoochee on his inner and Zaila on his outer at the 300m with Accidental Tourist looming into contention wider out.
The quartet set down to a tooth and nail struggle, with Devastate prevailing by a head from Zaila with Accidental just half a head away in third.
Forsman was pleased to see his charge get a deserved win on track conditions he thought would suit him perfectly.
“He went really well, and the race panned out how we had planned with Pow Wow leading and we could take a sit on him,” Forsman said.
“It is hard to race on the speed like that when the track is so testing but he really toughed it out nicely and I think he deserved that one.
“It would be nice to think he might even get a little further in the future, although at the moment I’m happy to keep him to a mile as he still races a little fiercely and has a bit more to learn about the game.”
Forsman was also playing a patient game around the immediate future of three-year-old filly Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) and whether she heads to Australia or to the spelling paddock after her comfortable five-length victory in the second race on the card.
“We were going to put the blinkers on her today but with the ground the way it is we decided against it,” he said.
“She has plenty of options for us to consider over the next few days, but it is great to get a confidence boosting win under her belt.”
Bred by the late Sir Patrick Hogan and Lady Hogan, Devastate was a $160,000 purchase out of Carlaw Park’s 2021 Karaka draft for Bloodstock Agent Bruce Perry and has now won over $192,000 in prizemoney for his large group of connections.
He is the fourth foal of unraced Pins mare Passion Cut and comes from Hogan’s famous Diamond family line of mares including exceptional Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) winner Diamond Lover, the dam of Group One winner and successful stallion Don Eduardo and multiple Group One winner Tristalove, the dam of Group One winners Viking Ruler and De Beers.
Forsman added a third victory to his tally later on the card when Russian Satire won over 1600m in the hands of Craig Grylls.
