Punters don’t have to do too much drilling to find the right form lines for New Zealand stayer Good Oil (NZ) (Dalghar) when he starts in Saturday’s A$300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m).
At his most recent start, Good Oil finished second in the Auckland Cup to Mahrajaan, with subsequent impressive Roy Higgins Quality winner Mark Twain third.
Trainer Andrew Forsman has taken the stayer to his Flemington stables so he can tackle the Mornington Cup on Saturday and the Andrew Ramsden at Flemington on May 18.
Both races have significant appeal to Forsman, as the winner of the Mornington Cup gains an automatic start in the Caulfield Cup and the Andrew Ramsden winner goes straight into the Melbourne Cup.
“His form lines look good through Mark Twain, albeit he was a bit unlucky in the Auckland Cup, but I thought my horse went pretty well,” Forsman said.
Forsman said he has been a little surprised by the improvement his on-pace stayer has shown.
“He’s stepped up every time we’ve raised the bar. He’s racing well,” he said.
“We thought he’s a dual Group 2 placegetter now at home and there’s not a lot of options for him during our spring.”
Forsman said now is a good time to find out whether Good Oil can measure up in the better staying races in the spring.
“We thought we’d get him over there while he’s fit and well and test the waters to find out,” he said.
Forsman has booked Billy Egan to ride Good Oil.
“He arrived last Wednesday and he’s very bright and well and he’ll have a good hit-out on Tuesday,” he said.
