Horse racing: Better ground to suit Kiwi Group 1 hopes

Mr Maestro wins the Victoria Derby Preview at Flemington. Photo / Bruno Cannatelli

Andrew Forsman enjoyed a satisfying weekend in Melbourne with his classic contenders, and upcoming Group1 aspirations will be further boosted by a break in the weather.

The Cambridge trainer produced She's Licketysplit to finish a gallant third in Saturday's Group3 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield, and the following day, Mr Maestro triumphed in the Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington.

Both venues provided unsuitably heavy conditions for the stablemates and Forsman was delighted with the duo's performances under trying circumstances.

"I was a little bit nervous with the bad weather around and I don't feel like it played into our hands, but they both were very gutsy," he said.

"Ironically, we normally take horses that are advantaged by wetter ground but She's Licketysplit definitely made hard work of it and only got balanced that last 100m.

"She was able to go again and hold on for third, which was a great effort."

Last season's Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1400m) winner had successfully resumed in last month's Group3 Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) before she came off a wide run to place in the Prelude under rider Damian Lane.

"She's Licketysplit was only second-up, so she should have good improvement in her and pulled up well," Forsman said.

The daughter of Turn Me Loose is currently rated an $11 chance in the Group1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12.

"Damian Lane will stick with the filly and with the colt we might run him in a fortnight in the Super Impose Plate [Listed, 1800m] at Flemington, that's probably the likely plan.

"Then he'll run in one of the three lead-ups to the Derby. It's all going to plan at this stage with both horses, hopefully they keep going. It's not the business end yet, but they are certainly right in amongst it."

The Group3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) on October 16, the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) four days later or the Group2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on October 23 are Forsman's options for Mr Maestro.

The son of Savabeel was a month between runs when he claimed the Derby Preview to guarantee a spot in the Group1 VRC Derby (2500m) on October 30.

Forsman has a strong association with Mr Maestro's family and with the now retired Murray Baker prepared the colt's dam Let Me Roar, a daughter of Rip Van Winkle, to win her first six starts before she ended her career with a third placing in the Group2 Easter Stakes (1600m).

He also travelled to Australia as Baker's foreman with Let Me Roar's ill-fated half-brother Lion Tamer when he won the 2010 VRC Derby.

Meanwhile, Forsman also celebrated a domestic winning double at Taupo last Friday with promising 3-year-old The Intimidator and Lady Koval.

The Intimidator followed up a debut second with success over 1300m and the Toronado gelding has a nomination for the Group1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

"That's the logical thing to do, but it's not a concrete plan," Forsman said.

"In many respects, he is still quite an immature horse physically and whether he needs to be put through a trip to Riccarton is something he'll tell us in the next few weeks."

Lady Koval posted her second career success after the American Pharoah mare won at the first time of asking a year ago on the synthetic track at Cambridge.

"She has been a bit of a work in progress and we finally feel we might be getting somewhere with her, which is great," Forsman said.

- NZ Racing Desk