Bright future tipped for well-bred Sahar
Time will benefit the well-related Sahar, who will make his debut at Matamata on Wednesday.
The son of Iffraaj and Valpolicella is a half-brother to the Group 2 winners Vavasour and Catalonia, who raced in Australia as Vilanova, and will step out for the first time in the Paul Jones 1200m.
“He’s a nice horse who trialled really well,” said Andrew Forsman, who trains the colt with Murray Baker.
“If he wins it will be on sheer ability. He’ll be a much nicer three-year-old, but we like to give them a run at two and I’m sure he’ll perform very well.”
Sahar has had two trials and finished third at Matamata in the spring and more recently he won a 1000m heat at Taupo in the hands of Jonathan Riddell, who will take the reins on Wednesday.
Riddell will also partner Smiling More for the stable in the Lowe Schollum Jones Insurance Brokers Handicap (1600m). “We thought he would have gone a bit better last time out, we have to keep him as fresh as we can and he might have needed the run,” Forsman said.
“He’s promised a bit, but he’s had a few issues along the way.” Smiling More has a win and five placings from his 12 appearances and finished third at his latest outing at Avondale where he was first-up after a nine-month break.
Riddell’s other ride for the stable is the resuming Miss Freelove in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) while Michael Coleman will partner Mamba, a last-start third, in the Matamata Saddlery 2000m for Baker and Forsman.