Moonlight Magic beat all but one of the boys in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm last weekend, and trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping she can go one better against her own sex when she returns to the Brisbane venue on Saturday.
The daughter of Almanzor will back-up in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) for which she currently sits as a $14 winning chance with TAB bookmakers.
Forsman was rapt with her performance in the Derby and is looking forward to seeing her line-up this weekend, where she will jump from barrier six with expat Kiwi jockey Michael Dee aboard.
“It is always great to have a runner in a Group One, particularly one that is in good form,” Forsman said.
“It was a great run (in the Derby). The winner (Warmonger) was obviously in a race of his own, but she was brilliant and had the rest of them well covered.
“She has come through it great. She was a tired horse the day after, but she has picked up pretty well.
“I think that (barrier six) helps. She hasn’t had all favours with barrier draws this preparation, so that will just help her get that little bit closer, ideally midfield or just beyond, and if that is the case she should get every chance.”
Moonlight Magic has been a standout for owner-breeder The Sunlight Trust this season, winning the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) and placing in the Queensland Derby and Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m), and Forsman would love to add an elite-level victory to her haul.
“Any more black-type we can gain this prep is a big advantage, she is already a stakes winner and Group One placed, so a Group One win would be amazing,” he said.
“This will be her last run this preparation and we will have to decide after this what we do with her in the spring.”
Forsman’s Queensland contingent has been bolstered by Devastate, who will line-up on the Eagle Farm undercard in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1400m).
“He has travelled over well,” Forsman said. “We are testing the waters a little bit with him to see whether he is up to that level in Australia and whether he is going to be a progressive horse over there, or better placed back here.”
It will be a rare quiet weekend for Forsman, with no runners lining up back home in New Zealand, while he will just have one runner out of his Flemington base on Saturday when Full Of Sincerity tackles the Sally Francis Plate (2520m)
“It is a nice quiet weekend at home,” he said. “The racing team is starting to quieten down a little bit. It will be nice to just focus on a few runners in Australia.”
