Forsman three-year-olds continue Melbourne campaigns

[Wandering Eyes]

Andrew Forsman has four runners spread across three venues on Saturday, including a pair of three-year-olds at Flemington who will try to follow up strong last-start performances at the Melbourne track.

Yaldi will step up in distance to contest the Darren Galley Mile (1600m), in which he will carry 60kg and will be ridden by Declan Bates.

The winner of the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, Yaldi was a last-start third placegetter over 1400m at Flemington on May 17. He carried 59.5kg in that race and was beaten by only 0.2 lengths by Zourain and Hot Digity Boom. Zourain is among the opposition again on Saturday and rises from 54kg to 56.5kg.

“That was a very good effort,” Forsman said. “He just might have raced a little bit too keenly for his own good, which dulled his sprint a little bit at the end of the race. But it was a nice, genuine run and he’s come through it well.

“The blinkers come off this week and we’re testing the waters a little bit by stepping up in distance. I’m not convinced he’s a genuine miler, but if he shows us this weekend that he can be competitive over that trip, it’ll open up a lot more options for him.”

All of the two wins and five placings in Yaldi’s 11-race career have come over distances ranging from 1200m to 1500m. His one previous try at 1600m produced a seventh behind Damask Rose in the Karaka Millions 3YO at Ellerslie in January.

Meanwhile, talented staying three-year-old Prochester will line up in Saturday’s Country Racing It’s Got It All Trophy (2000m).

The Proisir gelding was a maiden winner over 2200m at Waverley in late January, then finished fifth in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and third in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) before relocating to Forsman’s Flemington stable. His first start on that side of the Tasman produced a close fifth over 2000m at Flemington on May 17, beaten by less than three lengths by Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) contender Politely Dun.

“He was great,” Forsman said. “He got on the heels of the horses in front of him a little bit in the straight, but he kept coming to the line. He finished close behind them and probably should have run fourth.

“We’ve been happy with him since then. It’s just a shame he’s drawn poorly this time (gate 17 in a full field of 16 plus four emergencies). He’s not going to get as good a run as he had last start, which will make it a bit harder for him.”

Back home, the Cambridge branch of Forsman’s operation will send out Zanzibar in the Happy Hire (1600m) at Trentham and Pharaoh’s Dream in the Yourride (1200m) at Ellerslie.

“Zanzibar scored a good, tough maiden win at New Plymouth last start,” Forsman said. “He sat outside the leader and had to do plenty of work, but fought hard down the straight. A similar performance on Saturday would see him be competitive again.

“Pharaoh’s Dream is a lot better than what she showed at Te Rapa. We were scratching our heads a little bit after that race. There was a loose horse and she struck some interference coming down the side, and it’s almost like she switched off completely after that and had no interest in taking part. “She seemed to pull up well after the race and has had a quiet trial since then. The blinkers go on this weekend. Hopefully she’ll produce a performance that’s a better reflection of what she’s capable of.”

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