Mr Maestro ready for Valley assignment

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Andrew Forsman expects to see significant improvement from Mr Maestro (NZ) (Savabeel) when he lines-up at The Valley on Saturday.

The stakes performer finished fifth in his debut Australian outing at Sandown earlier in the month, but the Cambridge conditioner said the 1200m hit-out would bring on the son of Savabeel.

“I was really happy with that run,” Forsman said. “In a sprint home, I thought he was really solid through the line.”

Forsman believes his charge will be competitive once he gets over a mile and a 1500m test in three-year-old company at The Valley this weekend will be more to his liking.

“We took him over there for him to hit his straps once he gets to a mile and further,” Forsman said.

“He gets 1500m at The Valley on Saturday, which looks a more suitable race.

“He should have improved a lot with that first-up run. He had a look around The Valley on Tuesday morning in a track gallop. Damian Lane rode him and really liked how he went.

“He is still a bit raw and a bit new, and he is going to need some racing to come to it. That is why we are over there (early) and there are a lot of suitable options for him.”

Mr Maestro was purchased by Forsman out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $100,000.

The colt is out of six-time winner Let Me Roar (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who was Group Two placed for Forsman and former training partner Murray Baker, and is a half-sister to the stable’s Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home).

Mr Maestro has recently been joined in Melbourne by stablemate Saint Bathans (Maurice).

The lightly-raced four-year-old has won two races and finished fourth to Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe in April.

He had one trial in New Zealand earlier this month, finishing runner-up in his 900m heat at Te Rapa.

“Saint Bathans went over late last week and has settled in well,” Forsman said.

“At this stage he is set to have a jumpout at Flemington on Friday. How he performs there will dictate where we run first-up.

“There are a couple of options for him at Sandown next Wednesday, which look likely.”

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