Optimism after Aegon’s slashing return

[Wandering Eyes]

Aegon’s (NZ) (Sacred Falls) Moonee Valley credentials are set to be tested again after the Group One winner’s slashing return to the track in last Saturday’s G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Trainer Andrew Forsman said next month’s G2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) is the six-year-old’s likely next run after he reeled off the best final 600m, 400m and 200m to get within two lengths of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).

Forsman said that while Aegon’s Melbourne form is hard to fault, his only failure came at The Valley in this year’s All-Star Mile.

“He was very good,” Forsman said.

“We weren’t expecting a lot first-up from the wide draw, knowing that he’d probably get back and that we’re targeting middle-distance races this preparation.

“At weight-for-age it’s always hard to give them that much of a start but to see him give them that sort of start and run like he did, it was very encouraging.

“We want to go to The Valley again so at this stage we’d lean towards running him in the Feehan next to see whether his run in the All-Star Mile was a case of him not handling The Valley or what because otherwise, his form looks pretty good.

“It would be nice to tick that (The Valley) off.”

While the Cox Plate is on the radar, Forsman said Aegon’s initial spring target is the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in early October.

“His interim target this preparation is the Turnbull, we thought that was the race to get him ready for and he’ll be well off at set-weights-and-penalties (conditions),” Forsman said.

“That’s what we’re working towards, how we get there is what we haven’t settled on.”

The trainer, who is operating a satellite stable out of Macedon Lodge, is also bullish about the spring prospects of New Zealand Derby placegetter Full Of Sincerity (NZ) (Puccini) after his encouraging return over 1600m at Caulfield on Saturday.

The son of Puccini finished midfield, beaten by two lengths by Jimmy The Bear (Jimmy Creed), and his trainer has little doubt he will improve markedly out to 2000m and beyond.

Full Of Sincerity holds an entry for the Caulfield Cup but Forsman said he would need to lift his rating in the coming weeks to justify any lofty aims this spring.

“First-up at a mile, coming back as a four-year-old, you’re never quite sure how they’ll measure up but I thought he was really good,” he said.

“He’s not the most physically impressive horse, he doesn’t carry a lot of condition and he’s still got a lot of strengthening to do, so I think he’ll keep getting better.

“I didn’t think we’d see him do much until he got to 2000m.

“We’ll get him over ground sooner rather than later and I think there’s a Benchmark 100 handicap at The Valley in a few weeks’ time which looks the ideal progression for him.

“In the next start or two, he’ll prove whether he’s a Caulfield Cup horse this preparation or he might be a Cups horse in a bit of time.”

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