Forsman Chasing Second 3YO Title

[Wandering Eyes]

Andrew Forsman has a key hope to add another $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) trophy to his cabinet at Ellerslie on Saturday.

In 2021, Forsman and his former training partner Murray Baker won the race with formidable three-year-old Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls), downing another class galloper in Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel). On Saturday, Forsman will chase the title with a pair of runners, the first of those being Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) winner Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan).

The son of Ardrossan is a stakes performer in Australia and a key contender in the lucrative contest, currently sitting fourth favourite at $6.50.

“He’s very well, he’s improving all the time and mentally I think he gets better every time he turns up to the races,” Forsman said.

“I think he is (a big player), it’s just going to be dependent on tempo as much as anything. Up to the mile is the question mark, but if it’s strongly run and he’s got horses to chase, he’ll run well.

“The mile for Yaldi is a question mark, but on ability, he’s well up to winning.”

Forsman’s other representative is up-and-comer Retrostar (NZ) (Vespa), who is dropping back from an eighth placed finish in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) a fortnight ago.

“He worked very hard early at Ellerslie in that first 600m,” Forsman said. “I think back in trip, if it’s truly run, he can just take a position in behind the speed. He’s certainly capable, he’s a two-win horse and if he runs up to his best form and things go for him, he’s a top five or six chance.”

Group Two performing-mare Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) will chase a big prize of her own in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). The daughter of Almanzor was luckless in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) last start at Ellerslie, a contest won by race-rival Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir).

“She didn’t have much luck at all (in the Rich Hill), but she’s come through it great and we’ve kept her ticking over,” Forsman said. “Once she’s up and racing, she’s not a hard horse to keep fit and we hope again, it’s a truly run race and she gets her chance.

“She’s performed at a high level before, obviously if Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) is at her best she’ll be hard to beat, but outside of that, I think it’s very open.”

Forsman’s evening will kick off earlier with Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) taking on the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m). The talented filly is dropping back from a second placing in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m), with a factor in play being the NZB Kiwi Bonus eligibility of the race, worth an additional $600,000 to the winner of both the $3.5 million feature and the Almanzor Trophy.

“We’re looking forward to what’s going to suit her best,” he said. “Ultimately, she’s probably a 1400m horse, but looking ahead to what races there were, we thought that if she was competitive in this or was able to win, she is Kiwi bonus eligible, which was something to consider.

“I think there is another run for her before the Kiwi if she was to go down that path, but I think she is probably a 1400m horse, maybe a miler on a good track.

“She hasn’t done much at all, she’s just had a quiet gallop by herself on Tuesday morning and that’ll be about it.

“I’d like to see her settle off them a bit and hopefully she chases them hard, she’s run well at the track.”

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