Racing: O'Sullivan backs Forfar to grab some black type

Forfar's trainer Paul O'Sullivan exudes confidence about his mare's prospects in the New Zealand St Leger at Trentham today.

The four-year-old is bred to stay, and her four wins from 20 starts have all been over middle distance.

Forfar unleashed a storming finish to catch Enthous at Matamata last start.

"She couldn't have been any more impressive," O'Sullivan said.

"She carried 57.5kg, was last on the turn and beat a strong class 3 field.

"The St Leger gives her the chance to get some black type. We have been targeting the race for some time and her preparation has been geared so that she is a horse on the way up. She'll go on to the float a very fit horse. I can see her being pretty competitive and I wouldn't like to say Bel Air [one of her main rivals] could beat her."

O'Sullivan said it couldn't have been easy for his brother Lance to give up the ride on her (he rode Forfar at Matamata) to ride Bel Air, on whom he has a notched a hat-trick of wins, but Lance had a prior booking for Bel Air.

Noel Harris now rides Forfar.

Part-owner and trainer of Bel Air Peter Walker says the four-year-old Victory Dance gelding faces his biggest test today.

"He's going from strength to strength. You've got be patient and wait for the Victory Dances and he was a slow maturer," Walker said.

"I thought it was a great effort when he won the Leger Trial [at Trentham on February 21] and this race would be the icing on the cake. The set weights of the St Leger has to be a big advantage to him.

"He came through the trial race in unbelievable condition and he's done extremely well since. It's a big help to have a horse like him who relaxes in his races.

"Lance [O'Sullivan] said after his last win that he just keeps on getting better and better and has the potential to make a cup horse next year."

If Bel Air stars, Walker said a start in the South Australian St Leger in May would be considered.

Walker has a share in Sky Rhythm, who is trained by Colin Jillings and Richard Yuill, and will bring the filly south for the opening race. He rates her a definite chance.

Lord Presto is the best performed horse in the St Leger field and boasts excellent form. Though ninth in last Saturday's Lion Stakes (wfa 2000m) at Ellerslie, he was only two lengths from winner Tall Poppy, and he comes into this event on favourable weight terms.

Roger James' runners, Berkley and Spottswoode, cannot be underrated. The stable expects both of them to be suited by the distance.

Spottswoode won at the Wellington Cup meeting and her two subsequent runs for fifth in the International Stakes at Te Rapa and 10th (3 1/2 lengths from Tall Poppy) last Saturday will ensure her support.

Semper Fidelis (second), Orissa Storm (third) and Italian Count (fourth) did well enough in the St Leger Trial to suggest they could fill a place. Italian Count was just beaten in last year's St Leger.

- NZPA